Barbara Lorraine Davenport passed away on December 24, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born to Eric and Norma Hill in Christchurch, New Zealand in the middle of World War II in the spring of 1943. She enjoyed a childhood playing and riding bikes with her siblings Dave and Adrienne and spending time with her cousins Owen, Linda, and Susan. A hard worker, Barbara had several different jobs as a young woman. She worked as a hairdresser, a switchboard operator, a bookstore clerk, and sold cosmetics in a local department store.
In November of 1960, Barbara and a friend rode their bikes to a dance where she met Glen Davenport. Glen was a sailor with the U.S. Coast Guard whose ship was docked in Lyttleton Harbour, NZ, on its way to Antarctica. Barbara and Glen fell in love as they wrote letters and saw each other as often as the ships schedule would allow. After Glen left the Coast Guard, he returned to New Zealand to court Barbara and they were married in 1963. They had their first son, Grant, and in 1964 at the age of 21, Barbara moved with Grant from their life in New Zealand across the world to start a new life with Glen in Creswell, North Carolina. Although homesick at first, Barbara came to love life in Creswell. She contributed to the community in many ways. She also worked in the Creswell Elementary School library and as the treasurer of Creswell Baptist Church. In 1966 Barbara and Glen's family grew to a family of four when they had their second and youngest son Michael.
A brilliant woman, with a sharp mind, Barbara was a skilled businesswoman and investor. Her business acumen led to several successful endeavors, including building Davco Electric, Inc. and Quail Run Business Center with her husband Glen and their two sons, Michael and Grant. The family business began in 1974 with just a hardware store and expanded to include electrical services and property investments. Barbara kept the books and managed the administrative side of the business while Glen, Grant, and Michael did the electrical jobs.
Barbara instilled in her children and grandchildren a strong sense of personal responsibility and shrewd business acumen. She loved them and supported them and she gave them every opportunity and resource they needed to succeed. She was a classy woman who was always smartly dressed, her outfit complete with makeup and jewelry. She was a virtuous woman, with an occasionally mischievous sense of humor.
She loved her family dearly, especially her husband Glen. Throughout their marriage of over 60 years, they raised two sons, founded and expanded their business, and traveled all over the world together. They leaned on each other through good times and bad and their love grew stronger everyday. They were true partners for each other in every sense of the word.
Barbara was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren who will fondly remember their time with her on camping trips in the mountains, weekends at her house swimming and going on boat rides in Bulls Bay, and her hugs which were just as sweet as her chocolate meringue pie. Her family will remember her unwavering love and support for them and will hold her dearly in their hearts for the rest of their lives.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Eric and Norma Hill. She is survived by her loving husband Glen; her son Grant and his wife Elizabeth; her son Michael and his wife Melissa; her step-daughter Jean and her husband Mike; her grandchildren; Kirsten, William Grant and his wife Elena, London and her husband Nicholas, McCoy, Malia and her fiancé Zander, Emily, and Michael, and her great granddaughter Evelina. Her family in Australia and New Zealand; her brother David Hill, his wife Joy, their son Geoff, his wife Deb, their children Jake, Cassie and Max. Her sister Adrienne Drake, her husband Bernie, nephew Blair Street, niece Chelsea Donges and her son Seth Eastly. Her cousins Owen Grace, Sue Simpson, Linda Isherwood and her husband Brenden.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. at Creswell Baptist Church with Jim Parrish officiating. Family will receive friends following the service at the church and other times at the residence.
Arrangements are by Maitland Funeral Home, Creswell.
