Linda L Davenport

Linda L. Davenport, 79, of Woodbury, Tennessee passed away on June 10, 2026. She was born in Hill City, Georgia on August 9, 1946. She was preceded in death by her parents Hannibal Norrell and Eva Norrell, also by her four brothers, Charles Norrell, James Norrell, Ronnie Norrell, and David Norrell.

She is survived by her husband, Melvin Davenport of Woodbury, daughters, Michele (Andre White) George of Murfreesboro and Shelly (Kyle) Anderson of Woodbury, grandchildren, Makenzie (Brooklyn Vest) George, Kyla (Ty St. John), Wesley George, Garrett Anderson, great grandson, Asher St. John, brothers and sisters-in-law, Judy Norrell of Hill City, Georgia, Bobby (Kathleen) Davenport of Woodbury, C. W. Davenport of Murfreesboro, Lynn Davenport of Woodbury, close friends, Bobby and Brenda Bogard.

Linda was born in a small community outside of Calhoun Georgia called Hill City. She was the middle child of five and the only girl. Growing up with all those brothers helped to toughen her up on the outside. The inside stayed soft and sweet. She could definitely hold her own with anyone though. Her mothering skills were honed by helping raise her youngest brother, David. Her family lived next-door to a large poultry farm out in the country. It so happened that her future husband and his brother both worked at the poultry farm. Living next to it must have helped craft that mother hen type mentality she carried. It wasn’t long until Linda caught Melvin‘s eye. Before they decided to get hitched, Melvin was called into the Army. They wrote to each other to keep the spark glowing until he finished his active duty. They married and soon after and moved to Melvin’s hometown of Woodbury. They were blessed with over 65 years together. Not a small feat in this day and time.

After a few years together they welcomed their first daughter, Michele and a few years later another daughter, Shelly. Linda decided to get a job at the school where her daughters would be attending. Working in the cafeteria, cooking came as second nature to her. It also allowed her to keep a close eye on what her daughters were up to. She kept her ear to the grapevine, and her “people” kept her abreast of whatever issues might be ahead for the girls. Linda was one of those mothers who you couldn’t pull the wool over her eyes. The girls knew if they were trying to hide something, they might as well go ahead and confess to whatever was going on. Even their friends were a little afraid of trying to get them involved in anything she disapproved of.

Their friends also knew that if they wanted an awesome home-cooked meal, to just show up at Linda’s house. Their friends would often ask what she was cooking today. No one left her house hungry. Almost every day she would make beans and cornbread for Melvin. Everyone loved her roast, spaghetti, and turkey and dressing at Thanksgiving. Just to name a few of her delicacies. Cooking was definitely Linda‘s way to share her love. Melvin stayed busy doing farm work with his father and was a member of the Army National Guard serving for over 24 years. During the summer while he was gone for guard training she and the girls would take trips to Georgia to visit family. They would also take time to go to Camp Clements in Tennessee. Her close friends Bobby and Brenda would sometimes go with them.

Linda and Melvin enjoyed getting together with their friends playing Rook and Uno and grilling out. Linda didn’t take all the fun out of growing up for the girls. She would take them out rolling yards. The only problem was she wasn’t good at the column shifter on the truck. It would often stall when she tried to take off and they would get caught. That didn’t matter to her. She just busted out laughing and enjoyed herself. Every Sunday, the girls and their families would come to Linda and Melvin’s for a big meal together. They loved having them there and spending the time together, laughing and sharing stories. It made her heart happy to have them home and feed them. Linda and the girls also created a tradition of going shopping together. It allowed them to have some quality girl time. No one in the family had to worry about going hungry or having dirty clothes. Linda made sure of that. When the girls were young, they attended Ivy Bluff Methodist Church and later Plainview Baptist Church. Making sure to instill a love and trust in God. As her health began to fail, she wasn’t able to attend but held to the Bible giving her strength to weather the storms of life.

The role of mother and Nana fit her well. Putting all those skills to good use her entire life. She was a simple country girl who kept a close watch and a loving hand on the pulse of her family. Carrying herself with class and knowing when to lighten up for a good laugh. She never ate the bread of idleness. Her husband and children praised her for all her love and care. They can rest assured she loved them with her whole heart and being.

Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, June 14, 2026, from 11-2 pm. Funeral services will follow in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Tim Gentry will officiate. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Share condolences and stories at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337. Because every life has a story.