Dr. Jesse Lee Davenport

Rev. Jesse L. Davenport, founder and former pastor of St. John's Baptist Church, who also officiated our wedding ceremony.

In 1965, God placed in the hearts of the church members Rev. Jesse Lee Davenport, who, at the time, served as an associate minister under Rev. J. H. Chapman, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Frederick, Oklahoma.

Rev. J. L. Davenport was called, and he accepted the challenge to lead our church.He officially became the pastor on the second Sunday in May 1965, and he became the second pastor in the history of St. John's Church.Pastor Davenport started a vigorous ministry of teaching and preaching, seeking to stimulate the membership and to enlarge the flock of God.

From that small band of believers, St. John's has grown.Not just hundreds, but thousands over the past twenty-eight years passed through its teaching and preaching program.For example, former members like the late Rev. J. A. Alexander pastored in Texas until he retired.
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After thirty years of surrendering to God his heart and hands, through which to love and serve humanity without reservations, our pastor, Rev. Dr. Jesse Lee Davenport entered into eternal rest on Friday, 14 January 1994.The St. John's Missionary Baptist Church feels blessed and eternally grateful to God for placing Dr. Davenport over this flock for more than thirty years.

Dr. Jesse Lee Davenport was born on 2 October 1935 in Mayo, Fla., to the late Jesse David Davenport and Fronie (Bell) Davenport.
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Dr. Davenport believed that the church grew by giving and helping others.He provided financial support to ministries and education at home and aboard.Many ministries were established and supported under his leadership, to include: prison outreach, feeding the hungry, battered women, Christian witnessing and youth training, single parenting, substance abuse, and sheltering the homeless.Brother Davenport was a renowned national, state, and local preacher.He crossed many denominational lines and barriers in reaching, preaching, teaching, and lecturing on the love of Christ.Many persons have confessed Christ as a result of his glorious crusades and revivals in parts of Hawaii, Europe, the Bahamas, the Philippines, and across this nation.He appeared regularly on KSWO Radio and TV, "Moments of Experiencing God's Goodness" program for a number of years; KVRS Tuesday night broadcasts of "The Shepherd's Voice," and Sunday morning radio worship services.

Dr. Davenport was, indeed, a great leader; but his role was not limited to leadership of the St. John's Missionary Baptist Church.He was interested in the growth and development of his community and its civic affairs and made worth while contributions to that end.One of his greatest contributions in this community was spearheading the efforts to have a portion of Interstate 44 Expressway named in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.His leadership responsibilities, career summary, and support to others was not limited to the Lawton-Fort Sill area but extended throughout the United States.Through Pastor Davenport's prayers and the prayers of others and astute leadership, the church grew and prospered.St. John's grew from a one building structure to three buildings, with the additions of the Lawton Branch of the Oklahoma School of Religion and the Dr. J. L. Davenport Family Life Center (1993).

He served as a social worker with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health (1970-1985).From 1985-87, he served as an individual and family therapist with the Lawton Christian Family Counseling Center.His religious and professional affiliations include: President of Lawton Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance; Chairman of the Board of One Church, One Child, Vice-president at large of Oklahoma Baptist State Convention; Seminar Leader, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, USA, Inc.; Oklahoma Baptist Congress of Christian Education and Western District Congress of Christian Education instructor, Director of Western District Leadership Institute, Director of Lawton Branch of Oklahoma School of Religion, member of Cameron University Foundation board of directors, Great Plains Improvement Foundation board member, member of Cameron Campus Ministry, member of Lawton-Fort Sill United Way board of directors, Northside Chamber of Commerce member, and past-president and life member of Lawton Branch of the NAACP.He was also a member of the National Association of Social Workers; a member of Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Lawton Municipal Airport Authority; and President of the Coalition for Minority Affairs.Dr. Davenport was a board-certified social work supervisor and a licensed clinical social worker.

He received many awards, honors, and citations for his untiring efforts in the fields of God's ministry, Christian education, and public service -- a few among the many are: Who's Who Among Black Americans, Personalities of the South, International Awareness and Involvement Award, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Award (1995), Omega Citizen-of-the-Year Award, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Award (1996), NAACP Outstanding Leadership Award (1986) NAACP Humanitarian Award (1987), Richard Allen Award for Community Service, Davis Chapel A.M.E. Church Award (1987), Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Humanitarian Award (1988), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award (1991), and Project Head Start Volunteer Award (1991).

Jesse Lee Davenport served honorably in the United States Air Force.His educational background began in the public school system of Mayo, Florida.After military service, he continued his education at Cameron University, Lawton, Okla., where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history with a minor in behavioral science in 1970.In 1975 he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master's Degree in psychiatric social work, with advanced studies at the University of Texas at Arlington.Further studies and educational honors include pastoral ministries at Oklahoma Baptist State University and theology studies at the American Baptist Theological Seminary.He received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Morris-Booker Baptist Memorial College in Dermott, Ark.

On 22 December 1958, Jesse Lee Davenport and Bernice M. Webb were joined in Holy Matrimony in Frederick, Okla.