Ernestine (fondly known as “Teenie” or sometimes just “Teen”) Washington Davenport left us on January 9, 2022.  She lived an incredible life, doing what made her happy.  Through it all, she was a happy person!

Teenie was born into the Doris “Dickie” Radcliffe Washington (Mother), George Washington (Father), and Joyce Washington (Sister) family on August 18, 1935.

Teenie had a calm, kind, warm-hearted, patient, fun, joyful, and caring disposition. She loved to have fun and be around her immediate family, cousins, and friends. Many have been with her for life. Teenie was just easy to love!

Early in her childhood, having been raised in a Christian home and well acquainted with a relationship to her community church, Little Zion Baptist, she accepted Christ as her Savior.

She was dedicated to her family and was “the one” the family could always count on.  She was always there for her mother, father, and sister through their lifetime and through their times of need. Since her mother never had her license, she was the good daughter that was always on hand to take her where she needed to go.  Teenie had the pleasure of being “the big sister” to one of her cousins who came to live with her family at a young age.  Roz (Rosalind Radcliffe) was her little sister, (even with an age difference of about 20 years) they shared family fun, memories love and kindness and so much laughter over the years.  Roz surely looked to her as a sister as well.

Although Teenie was sometimes considered a homebody, she still was up for fun with her cousins and friends. Teenie was the one with the car!  While in high school, she and her friends and cousins had the chance to go out to movies, have their parties on the parkway, go to school social functions, and just have good clean fun.  She was a cheerleader at Bruton Heights, loved by her classmates, and graduated with a vision and a plan.

Teenie had goals and an eye to becoming a success.  Naturally, with a little push and total support from her mother and father, Teenie focused on a way to build a profession by using her innate abilities to secure a lifelong career in the medical industry. During her last year at Bruton Heights, she took the opportunity of a work/study program with the late Dr. J. Blaine Blayton, one of Williamsburg’s prominent and respected African-American physicians. Teenie was in on the ground floor of Williamsburg’s first primary health care facility for African-Americans. She worked tirelessly (always that 4-midnight shift) with an open mind and can-do attitude alongside Dr. Blayton. She soaked in all that Dr. Blayton taught her and she became a Certified Home Health nurse.  Of course, always giving every bit of her energy, kindness, hope, expertise, and attention to “her” patients.  It was personal to her!  She was always excited about knowing the patients and seeing them get well. After integration, the Blayton Center was eventually replaced with Williamsburg Community Hospital, but that didn’t deter Teenie, she continued working her shifts and caring for each patient she was assigned.  Later in her career in nursing, she worked at the Pines Convalescent Home and then onto Sentara Home Health Care, providing her services in-home health care. Her career spanned many years. Even with a career and family, Teenie enjoyed volunteering with the Williamsburg/James City Head Start Program. Always finding a way to help!

Early in her career, while juggling her hospital late shifts and family commitments, Teenie found often time to connect with one of her closest cousins (Delphine Roberts Driver) for a little fun and downtime.  On one of those evenings, Ernestine met Ulysses T. Davenport.  Frankie Lemon (Ulysses’ cousin) and Delphine Driver (Ernestine’s cousin) take credit for introducing them. Thanks to both, the Ulysses and Teenie story began.

Not long into their courtship, Teenie and Ulysses were married on June 23, 1962. For almost 60 years they have been truly “peas in a pod”.  When you think of or mention them it was always in one breath… Ulysses and Teenie.  Their committed partnership in marriage and friendship has stood the test of time.  They built a home together, with a life of love, respect, truth, happiness, and commitment. They forged strong friendships with their neighbors (Bubba and Dale), that is where you would find them most holidays. They continued to enjoy all their friends, traveled, and spent quality time together and quality time individually.  Teenie took care of Ulysses and Ulysses took care of Teenie….as it should be!

Even through her sickness…her calm, kind, warm-hearted, patient, fun, joyful, and caring disposition shined through. She always fought, persevered, lived, loved, and laughed!

Teenie’s infectious laugh and happy hour phone calls will be missed by many of us.  We know she is in a place where the care she gave will be given her!

We drink a toast to you Ernestine “Teenie” Davenport!

 

    “ She Was There”

The Nightingale Tribute Poem
Copywritten 2004 by Duane Jaeger, RN, MSN

When a calming, quiet presence was all that was needed,

She was there.

In the excitement and miracle of birth or in the mystery and loss of life,

She was there.

When a silent glance could uplift a patient, family member or friend,

She was there.

At those times when the unexplainable needed to be explained,

She was there.

When the situation demanded a swift foot and sharp mind,

 She was there.

When a gentle touch, a firm push, or an encouraging word was needed,

She was there.

In choosing the best one from a family’s “Thank You” box of chocolates,

She was there.

 To witness humanity--, its beauty, in good times and bad, without judgement,

She was there.

To embrace the woes of the world, willingly, and offer hope,

She was there.

And now, that it is time to be at the Greater One’s side,

She is there.

                                                       

The family wishes to thank Tidewater Medical Physicians Group and Sentara Hospice Care for all you have done to keep Ernestine comfortable throughout her illness.  Thank you to the Whiting’s Funeral Service for all you have provided for her homegoing. Thank you to family and friends who have been there throughout the years for prayers, visits, and kindness shown to me and Ernestine.

A graveside funeral will be held at 11 am Saturday, January 15, 2022, in Morning Glory Baptist Church Cemetery, 8956 Morning Glory Rd, Gloucester, VA 23061.  You are invited to say your goodbyes and reflect on sweet memories as the family celebrates her life on Friday, January 14, 2022, from 4 – 6 pm at Whiting’s Funeral Home. Facial coverings are required at all services.

Professional services entrusted to the staff of Whiting's Funeral Home, 7005 Pocahontas Trail, Williamsburg, Virginia 23185. 757-229-3011 whitingsfuneralhome.com