Charin Hudson Davenport died peacefully at the age of 67 in her home in Grand Rapids,
Michigan on Monday July 17th after a 9 year battle with kidney cancer. Born in Bay City,
Michigan on December 8th, 1955 to Gloria Jane (Mead) Davenport and Frank Hudson
Davenport who preceded her in death. Char is survived by her three children, Thomas
Davenport, Esther Davenport, and Emily (Davenport) Boswell. As well as her 3 grandchildren,
Disney and Nola Davenport, and Knightly Boswell.
Although raised in Bay City, Michigan, Char lived in many places and had many adventures
through her life. Beginning with enrolling in the Navy at 20 years old. She lived in South Korea,
Hawaii, Virginia, New York, and many cities in Michigan before finally settling in Grand Rapids
for the last few years of her life. It was in Hawaii she met the mother of her first born child,
Thomas. A few years later while earning an English degree at Central Michigan University she
met her future wife, Sarah Dickerson, and went on to have daughters Esther and Emily. Although
the marriage didn't last, they remained lifelong friends.
Ask any of Char's children and they will tell you what an exceptional and loving father she was.
Always ready with a silly joke, or sage words of advice. She adored her grandchildren, and was
proud to call herself Grandma Char. Her light shines in them through their humor, their wisdom,
and their love of music and literature.
As a teacher she impacted even more young lives, from middle school, to high school, and
eventually at the college level, even winning an award for best teacher at Saginaw Valley. She
shared a true love and passion for literature and poetry with her students.
An activist at heart, she became a prominent figure in the fight for transgender equality in
Michigan after publicly and proudly coming out as a transgender woman at the age of 57.
Through this work she touched the lives of many people, and helped give many struggling souls
hope and a found family.
To say Char will be missed is an understatement. She was a hero to some, a beloved daughter,
sister, cousin, aunt, grandma, and dad to others. Her legacy will live on in her poetry, but most
importantly in her children and grandchildren and the future generations to come.