Jefferson “Jay Jay” Edwards Davenport passed away at his home on Thursday, February 17, 2022, after battling a variety of cancers over the last nine years.
Jeff was born and raised on Lookout Mountain, Tn. He attended Lookout Mountain School, graduated from Baylor School and received his Business degree from the University of Tennessee.
Upon his return to Chattanooga he established Figgy’s Sandwich Shop which was a hometown favorite for over 20 years. His love for food expanded to the outdoor charcoal grill where he excelled at preparing special meals enjoyed by family and friends alike.
Favorite past times included family trips to Sawgrass filled with long walks on the beach while collecting sharks’ teeth on his path. He also cherished trips to St Simons Island where under his direct instruction, the family spent time crabbing for a delicious dinner while sharing his refined technique with his two sons. Nothing pleased him more than to gather multiple blue claw crabs in single scoop of his net. He was also renowned for his special pots of chili – a recipe he shared to the masses but conveniently failed to include his special ingredient.
Jay Jay savored life. He enjoyed time spent tending to his garden, holding a special affection for gardenias or a perfectly ripe tomato. He rarely missed an opportunity to take daily walks along the roads of Lookout Mountain, creating friendships with many fellow trekkers along the way. He found beauty in this world in many forms: the laughter with others, a winter sunset over the West Brow, a blossoming tree in the Spring, the hue of ripe blackberries ready to pick in Summer, and even the beats to a beloved Motown song to tap his feet or sing along with.
Jay Jay outwardly loved the people in his life: he was especially proud of his loving wife of 45 years, his two sons, daughter-in-laws, his grandson, and his entire family, both immediate and extended. Friendships were abundant in his life, many of them lifelong and he never took one of those special relationships lightly or for granted. More than all, he cherished his relationship with the Lord and remained steady as a devout Catholic until his last breath, personally applying the thought of others as a guiding light to living life.
Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Hedy Davenport and sister, Louise D. Strait.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Leslie Davenport and their sons and wives, Celia and Jeff Davenport, Jr., Birmingham, Simons and Jarvis Davenport of Charleston, S.C., and grandson, Broughton Davenport of Birmingham.
Also surviving Jeff are his brothers and sisters, Susan and Joe Davenport, Sissy and Lex Tarumianz, Margy D. Oehmig, Susu and Paul Brock, Nini and Elliott Davenport and Susan and John Davenport as well a large host of nephews and nieces, all of whom he loved dearly and cherished the time he spent with them.
Our family would like to thank Dr. Ian Flinn of Sarah Cannon Cancer Center in Nashville for his devoted research, attention and expertise to Jeff during the last nine years. We would also like to thank the staff of Hospice of Chattanooga for their care.
A celebration of life and funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of the Mount Catholic Church on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 1 p.m. The family will receive friends at the church hall after the service.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (www.GIVENOW.LLS.org) or to St Jude’s Research Hospital (Stjude.org)
Visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share condolences and memories with the family.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.
Credit: Source link
