Mary Davenport

Mary "DiDi" Louise Sadler Davenport, age 69, of Meridian, passed away early Sunday morning, May 18, 2014, at her residence in Meridian.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 24, in the Meridian High School Gymnasium with burial following in the Meridian Memorial Cemetery located on SH# 144. Rev. Greg Perkins, Rev. Will Dailey, and Rev. Napoleon Ward officiating. Pallbearers were Elton Watley, Sr., Jonathan Bible, Thomas Oliver, Jr., Jerry Sedberry, John Sadler, and Kenneth Bible.

Mary was born August 9, 1944, in Clifton, Texas. She was a daughter of the late Jimmy Sadler and Annie Mae Walker Sadler. She was raised in the Shiloh Baptist Church along side her brothers and sisters. Mary attended Peabody High School in Hillsboro, Texas. On February 23, 1962, she married Harvey Lee Davenport, Jr. and to this union seven children were born. Mary worked numerous years as a nurse aide before her retiring and becoming a stay at home mother. Mary was not only known for her "green thumbs" when it came to plants, but also had nuturing hands when it came to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and others. She loved sitting in the yard, playing cards with her sisters and cousins. When she wasn't playing cards, she enjoyed riding the back roads with her husband on the weekends. She was always encouraging her family to do right and be the best they could be. Even through her illness, she still encouraged to live, laugh, love, and fight the good fight.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy and Annie Mae Sadler, her husband, Harvey Lee Davenport, Jr., sisters, Virginia Sadler and Annie Lee Sadler, brothers, Joe Nathan Sadler and John Wayne Sadler, Sr., grandchild, Anthony Charles Davenport.

She leaves to cherish her memories, Frances Hereford (Shelby), Linda Davenport (Archie), Harvey J. Davenport (Richard), Lavern Davenport, Anita Davenport, Gayle Edwards, Robert Davenport (Dr. Ralph Wiggins), Rolanda Davenport, Bradley Davenport; 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and a host of sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Thoughts and memories may be shared with the family at www.lawsonfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, 254-435-2792