Obituary: Weed Corley Fish Funeral Homes and Cremation Services.

Martha Harrison Davenport was born Wednesday, September 11, 1918 in Beaumont, Texas to James William Parr and Martha Mahalie Parr. She passed away on Monday, November 20, 2017.
She is survived by three children, Martha Ben Harrison, Marvyn Harrison Manford, and James William Harrison; 9 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.

"Mimi", as her family knew her, was a very special person. She found so much joy in life, her family and her friends. Perhaps because she was an only child, she made a friend of everyone she met. She had many talents and received many awards and served others throughout her 99 years.

Mimi's life was always filled with friends and family. She was always eager to serve and support wherever she found herself. Over the past year, she would often tell me through tears "I have had a great life." She had two wonderful loves in her life: Ben, with whom she shared over 50 years of marriage, and Jim Davenport, with whom she spent some of the happiest times in her later years after Ben's death. Her marriage to Jim added a whole new and wonderful family to her life. She gave loving, tireless care to both Ben and Jim through their illness.

Prior to her passing, she was the longest living member of the Theta Zeta Chapter of Delta Delta Delta Sorority at the University of Texas and was a very active member and alumnus for many years.

Mimi was a remarkable and motivated student in Sour Lake High School where she was a cheerleader and earned many academic awards including valedictorian. She was Sweetheart of her Baylor University freshman class and later attended the University of Texas where she was nominated for Sweetheart of the University of Texas. She was beautiful and everyone loved her.

Mimi married Ben Harrison, who practiced law in Beaumont, Texas and who later became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in Austin where Mimi and Ben lived since 1960. Mimi was always active in State Law Wives Association and was an officer in the Attorney General Wives Association. Mimi was also president of the Delta Delta Delta alumnae group. She was active in her children's PTA's and in various Methodist Church group activities.

Mimi's quick mind and love of people and family led her to be a fan of Facebook. She kept up with all her children and grandchildren on Facebook. She was always thrilled by the many "friends" she had. Mimi was always excited when others wanted to "Friend her."

Mimi was very open about her love of God and trust in Him. Her strength and joy flowed from her faith. I think God winked when he brought her and Jim Davenport back together from their early college days. She never tired of telling their story.

Although Mimi was very ill and frail the last year of her life, she was still able to have many joyous days. She would have flashes of the humor we all knew so well. One of her nurses asked if she could get Mimi anything to which she replied, "Yes, a margarita please." And, she rallied one day after an illness and asked for barbecue. When I was walking out the door to pick up the BBQ, Mimi admonished me "Don't mind the calories." In her last months, she ate gallons of Blue Bell ice cream and enjoyed chocolate cake on her 99th birthday, reminding me at the time that it was her favorite. And I will never forget her 98th birthday. When I congratulated her for achieving 98 years, she looked over at me and replied "Yeah, but I didn't know how hard it was going to be!"

Mimi slept more and more her last few months. She would seem very far away, but when a family member arrived she would make the effort to overcome her condition and tell them she loved them.

Mimi died peacefully of natural causes in her home. I think she slipped out of this world and into the next. Although she was ready, we were not. We will miss her.

Graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Live Oak Cemetery, Manchaca, Texas.