Leila Davenport

Leila Davenport

Mer Rouge, LA - Leila Stevens Davenport passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on January 8, 2019. She was 84 years young.

Leila was born in Monroe, LA, the beloved only child of Leila Purvis Stevens and Henry Sylvester Stevens.

She spent her early years in Monroe, forging lifelong friendships, before moving with her parents to Bronxville, NY in Westchester County, outside of New York City. As a teenage girl, she used to attend dances and social events in Manhattan, which instilled a love of big band music, and where she honed her dancing skills (which she was literally doing up to the very end of her life). After graduating from Bronxville High School, Leila attended Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA. She transferred to Sophie Newcomb College (now, Tulane University) in New Orleans, LA, where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

After college, she spent a few joyful years in Greenwich, CT before heading back down South to Monroe, where she met the absolute love of her life, William Morgan (Bill) Davenport, of Mer Rouge, LA. He heard her hearty laugh from across a room at the Bayou DeSiard Country Club. They have been inseparable ever since. Bill and Leila were married on August 15, 1970 and lived in their beautiful home, in Mer Rouge, until her death.

Leila Davenport was an active, cherished member of the following: Alter Guild at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Literary Forum, Coterie Study Club, Junior League of Monroe, Monroe Garden Club, Morehouse and Monroe Supper Clubs and a volunteer at the Morehouse Humane Society.

One of Leila's most memorable traits was her effervescent joy in life itself! Whether it was to dear friends, total strangers, children, or animals, her ability to focus that childlike joy on whomever she encountered, from whatever walk of life, was a true gift and a rare form of kindness. She had the ability to make anyone and everyone feel special. She embodied that gracious gift to family, friends and even strangers that she encountered on any random day along her life's beautiful journey. With utter joy and excitement, she spread genuine happiness everywhere she went. She worked her magic with flowers and had one of the most gorgeous yards in the area. She will be truly missed by all.

Leila is preceded in death by her parents, Leila Purvis Stevens, of Helena, AR and Henry Sylvester Stevens of Senecaville, OH, her grandson, Cal McCastlain, Jr. of Little Rock, AR and beloved family friend of 39 years, Cora Morrison Minnieweather.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, of 48 years, Bill Davenport, her two daughters, Heather Davenport McCastlain (Cal McCastlain) of Little Rock, AR and Leila Davenport Ross (Buff Ross), of Charleston, SC, her four grandchildren, William Davenport McCastlain, Margeaux Stevens McCastlain, William Davenport (Jack) Ross and Barlow Mitchell Ross.

Her funeral will be held at 11:00am on Friday, January 11, 2019 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mer Rouge, LA with Father T. Whit Stodgehill officiating. Immediately following, a gathering to celebrate her lovely life, will be held at her home until 2:00pm at 202 22nd St. Mer Rouge, LA. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory made to the Morehouse Humane Society in Bastrop, LA or to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Mer Rouge, LA, would be especially appreciated.

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