Black History Month Charlotte Spotlight: Reverend Dr. William H. Davenport

In honor of Black History Month, we have turned the spotlight to the arts to represent Charlotte natives that are making a positive impact on both our culture and our city today.

Reverend Dr. William H. Davenport, son of Mack and Phyllis Davenport of New Bern, NC matriculated at Livingstone University in Salisbury, NC, and worked on the college newspaper there. He was a minister, editor, teacher, and general officer of the church. Dr. Davenport and Nena Ray Davenport (my great aunt) had a nice brick home located in Charlotte NC off (1223) Beatties Ford Road in the Washington Heights area. They were one of the distinguished African Americans living in the area. Dr. Davenport had a special study built for him so he could do his work from home.

Dr. Davenport preached for some time and was pastor at St. Mark’s AME Zion Church in Durham, NC during the 1920s. In 1924, he became the editor of the Star of Zion newsletter up to his death in 1936. Before he was elected by the general conference to become an editor of the Star of Zion, Davenport had a teaching career. According to the late Mabel Ray Littlejohn, Davenport had to find a church to preach during the Depression because the company of the newsletter was not paying him. According to the late William Ray, a bishop assigned Davenport to a church in Charlotte, NC.

This way Davenport could still make a living even though other church officials were receiving their pay. After the Great Depression was over, he went back to work on the Star of Zion, but the company did not retro his back pay. He often traveled to different AME churches, and after he finished preaching a sermon at a church in Greensboro, NC in May 1936, he fell ill and passed away. This information can be found in a family narrative that was published in the Spartanburg County Genealogy Periodical.

-Written by V101.9 Listener

The 10 Most Beautiful Places in the US to Vacation in the Winter

• Sedona, Arizona

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  The Sedona desert town is surrounded by beautiful red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. It’s noted for its mild climate and vibrant arts community. Uptown Sedona is dense with New Age shops, spas and art galleries. On the town’s outskirts, numerous trailheads access Red Rock State Park, which offers bird-watching, hiking and picnicking spots.

• Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

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  Located not far from Yellowstone, this park covers a whopping 310,000 acres of land and is named after the superb Teton mountain range, which is practically ancient, with areas reaching 9 million years old. Appreciate nature through unique wildlife and gaze in awe and wonder over clear bodies of water, formed by glaciers over the years.

• White Sand Dunes National Monument, New Mexico

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  The White Sands National Monument consists of a wide expanse of white gypsum crystal sand dunes in the north of the Chihuahuan Desert. Immerse yourself in this tranquil environment, easily one of the most beautiful places in our country.
• San Francisco, California

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  The Golden Gate Bridge towers at almost 750 feet tall, measuring at 4,200 feet in length. It is one of the Wonders of the Modern world and is constantly touched up by a staff of 38 painters who maintain its impressive color. Guided bike tours and cruises allow for up-close-and-personal glimpses of this monumental structure.

• Antelope Canyon, Arizona

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• Can We Drink Tap Water Again?

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  Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune
• Acadia National Park

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• Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada

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  Lake Tahoe is one of the most famous freshwater lakes in the US. Located in the mountain range of Sierra Nevada, it's so transparently clear that you can see right down to its 70-foot depths! It's first believed to have formed during the ice ages, and most of its modern appearance has been around for two million years.

• Watkins Glen State Park, New York

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  The Watkins Glen State Park is located in upstate New York, and to witness the water cascading down frozen would be a winter wonderland indeed! Watkins Glen is home to a gorge that holds a grand total of 19 gorgeous waterfalls. There are also plenty of places to set up camp if desired.
• Savannah, Georgia

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  Savannah is an old city that is home to multiple fascinating sites, like Forsyth Park. Built in the 1840s and fitted with a stupendous fountain, romantic benches, and plenty of iconic oaks covered in moss for an even more calming aesthetic.