Ruby Jewel Davenport was born October 16, 1932, to the late Reuben David Jackson and Ruthie Lang. Ruby’s mother would eventually marry C.B. Lee and together they nurtured and raised her to be a virtuous woman whose price was far above rubies.
She completed her formal education through graduation from Booker T. Washington High School in Breckenridge, Texas.
In 1946, Ruby joined Williamson Chapel C.M.E. Church under the leadership of presiding Elder E. J. Lott. For approximately 50 years, Ruby worked in every capacity within the church at the local and district levels. At the time of her demise, Ruby was a member of Bethel Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. C.F. Holliman. She supported numerous church activities as her health permitted.
Ruby was an entrepreneur, partnering as owner of several establishments with her late husband, Ned Lejoy (Lee) Davenport. Together, they owned and operated a barber shop, a café/diner, a dance hall, a pool hall and a hotel.
Throughout her lifetime, Ruby worked for many influential families in the Breckenridge community. For Ruby, work was more than just work. She served her employer’s families just as she would her own. Often times, putting her needs on the back burner to meet their needs. Of these relationships, Ruby regarded her employment with Veale Land & Cattle Company with the fondest of memories. What began as an employment opportunity blossomed into a lifelong friendship that went beyond retirement. On October 16, 2017, Ruby and Mrs. Margie Veale celebrated Ruby’s 85th birthday with a small intimate lunch. They laughed and reminisced about the memories shared over the years and vowed to keep the “bang bang” going. To this day, no one but Ruby really knows what the “bang bang” was, but we do know that she cherished the relationship she had with the Veale Family.
Ruby was known among family and friends for her creative side. She remembered birthdays and holidays by sending decorative cards with stickers that reflected her love for each recipient. These handcrafted cards were always full of love, surprises, and left a big smile on the receiver’s face. She was big on saying “Thank You” with personalized handwritten notes. She was a strong believer in keeping the art of letter writing alive.
Ruby was a beacon of kindness and generosity. She would make lemonade from the lemons life served her. Through a tragedy she encountered, Ruby crafted a gift from remnants that miraculously made it through flood waters. This gift became a symbol of the bond between her and the young man that shares October 16 as a birthday. This gift was given in 1981 and is believed to still be cherished by Lloyd Oliver, a close family friend.
One powerful parting message that Ruby shared with her family was her desire for us to keep the family together. It was important that all of her family connect with each other and STAY TOGETHER. She was a firm believer that a family that prayed together, would stay together.
Ruby Jewel was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ned Lejoy (Lee) Davenport and sister Ruby Jewel Washington Rhone. She leaves to cherish her precious loving memory: daughters – Annie Sykes (Robert, Sr.) of Levelland, Texas; Nancy Session of Fort Worth, Texas; Lola Lee of Dallas, Texas; Cynthia Cooper of Weatherford, Texas; sons – Ned Lee Davenport III (Teresa) of Arlington, Texas; Dwight Davenport (Jeanette) of West, Texas; 13 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and special friends.
