Eugene Milburn Davant Sr.

Eugene Milburn Davant, Sr.
Mr. Davant, 85, died at The Carriage Club in Charlotte, NC on October 4th, 2006 surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born November 10th, 1920 in Memphis, Tennessee to Mary Milburn and Joseph Allison Davant, Sr. He moved to Charlotte in 1929. He attended Myers Park Elementary School and graduated from Central High School in 1938. He also attended Woodberry Forest. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1942 where he was Captain of the wrestling team and belonged to DKE fraternity. He served during World War II in the Army Air Corps in Kunming, China. After the war, he spent time in Panama building the Panama Canal.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Peetie Woodall Davant, his sons and their wives Milburn & Tracey Davant, Wescott & Nellie Davant, his daughter and her husband Ann & John Crehore, and four grandchildren: Thomas & Mary Carlisle Crehore, Conner & Abby Davant who fondly called him 'Butterbean'. He is also survived by his brother, Allison Davant and his wife Anne, a brother-in-law, Dr. Dave Tayloe of Washington, NC, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gene was a vibrant man and was passionate about many things. He was an active member of Christ Episcopal Church, teaching Sunday School for many years. He started the Watchmen on the Wall prayer ministry. He was very active in Kairos and Epiphany Prison Ministries. In 1946, he was the founding Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop #17 at Christ Episcopal Church. In 2001, the St. George Episcopal Medal was presented to Gene by the Episcopal Church and the Boy Scouts of America for distinguished service leading toward the spiritual, physical, mental and moral development of youth. Gene served as the first president of the Board of Children's Theater of Charlotte where his mother was its first Director. A commercial real estate agent, he was President of Davant Realty. Gene served four terms on the Habitat Charlotte Board of Directors. In addition to swinging a hammer, he worked to acquire over 300 lots for Habitat houses. After a heart attack in January 1998, he relinquished his title as Habitat's 'Dirt Man'. In May of 2000 Davant Glen, a Habitat neighborhood, was named in his honor.
Gene loved the outdoors. When he was young, he enjoyed hiking and mountain climbing having once climbed the Grand Teton. He enjoyed playing golf at the Charlotte Country Club where he was a member. He loved racing his Lightning with his daughter Ann as crew at the Catawba Yacht Club and taking people for rides on his Hobie Cat while at Camp Seafarer's Family Camp.
Special thanks to all the staff and nurses at The Carriage Club and to Hospice for their tender loving care.
A celebration and thanksgiving of his life will be held at Christ Episcopal Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 9th with interment following in the Memorial Garden. The family will receive visitors at the Church following the interment.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Habitat for Humanity, PO Box 220287, Charlotte, NC 28222, Children's Theater of Charlotte, 300 E. 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202 or Christ Episcopal Church, 1412 Providence Road, Charlotte NC 28207.
Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington, Dilworth Chapel, 1111 East Blvd. online at hankinsandwhittington.com