Anna Blue Davenport, 91, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2012, at Elmcroft of Southern Pines.
Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 26, at Page Memorial United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, with the Rev. Jane Leechford officiating. Burial was at Bethesda Cemetery. The family received friends at Boles Funeral Home Monday evening.
Anna was born Aug. 26, 1920, in Moore County, to the late Lillie McDonald and John A. Blue. She worked for Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Co. and five years for Southern Bell, retiring in 1976 after 30 years of service. She became president and manager of Joe-John Inc.
A lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, she helped candidates for 63 years. She could be found stuffing envelopes, baking cakes or sitting on the steering committee. She wrote to her congressmen for more than 50 years, expressing her concerns about Social Security, Medicare and health care. Anna helped to organize Democratic headquarters and served on the headquarters staff almost every year from 1971-2004. She assisted former state Sen. Wanda Hunt in arranging the 50th birthday party for U.S. Sen. John Edwards in 2003.
Her awards for service included the Certificate of Appreciation for her efforts and the Stars Award honoring North Carolinians for their work with the Democratic Party. She was a 15-year member of the Democratic Women of Moore County, former member of the National Federation of Independent Business, the National Business Women, and the Business and Professional Women’s Club.
Her civic involvement included the PTA, women’s organizations, garden clubs, the BPO Does and the VFW Auxiliary in Southern Pines. Anna was also a “plank” member of the Naval Memorial in Washington, D.C. “Plank” is a Navy term, and means that her name is engraved on the monument.
She is survived by sons Joseph B. Davenport Jr. and wife, Ann, of Hampton, Va., and John B. Davenport and wife, Kim, of Aberdeen; brother D. Mac Blue, of Southern Pines; three grandchildren, Clay, Brian and Jaden; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph B. Davenport, in 1976.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Grace Fund, c/o Page Memorial United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 695, Aberdeen, NC 28315, or charity of donor’s choice. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines is assisting the family.