Cumberland Good Samaritans Inc.

  Success: Renea Davenport 

Made a Difference to That One!

Fall 2002

Summary:
Renea Davenport comes from a traumatic family background, married and had children while very young. Cumberland Good Samaritans has been a critical resource in pulling together a package of assistance and support to enable Renea to go to school and break the cycle of violence.

[In her own words...]

"I’m going to tell you a story about my life, where better to begin that the beginning...'

"I was born September 26, 1987 in Crossville, TN. At the time my parents were together, and I was under the impression that I was their oldest child. By the time I was eight I had two younger brothers. My dad was a truck driver. One day while he was on the road, my mom rented a U-Haul and loaded all our things on it. Then she dropped my younger brother off at his granny’s. After that, she took my youngest brother and me back to her native state, Oklahoma, where I found out that my mother had five kids other than my brothers and me, and that she had been married four times. Now, she was divorcing my dad too. After my mother gained her freedom, she went wild, and began doing drugs. She was never home, and when she was, she was asleep."

"I had become familiar with my new siblings. My older brother had a best friend named Dale, who I thought was very cute. I wanted to be a big girl, so I began talking to him, and hanging out with him. Soon, we were inseparable. He was 16 and I was 9, when we consummated our relationship and I lost my innocence. We stayed together until he was nineteen and his mother told me he was deceased, that he had fallen off his oil rig."

"After his death I became severely depressed. The most traumatic experience of my life was waiting to come..."

"My mother’s boyfriend raped and stabbed me and left me for dead. Then my mom defended him, claiming I seduced him. They charged him with attempted murder and rape. He plea-bargained and the attempted murder charge was dropped. He was sentenced to 11 years, and got out after two."

"At the age of 12, my life was a wreck. My mom hated me and sent me back to my dad in Tennessee. I met my husband when I was thirteen. Then I got pregnant and married at fourteen. My daughter was born June 24, 1983. My son came along when I was 17 on February 8, 2001. Then my husband became violent with me and we separated, but now he is in rehab and pursuing an education. We have plans to get back together."

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Renea Davenport was the ripe old age of 18 at the time she wrote her story. She enrolled at the Tennessee Technology Center of Crossville in the LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) program, October, 2002. Renea came to us through the Families First program where we assessed her skills and abilities. We then made recommendations to the Department of Human Services for an education/work path that would be appropriate for Renea, based on her scores and input. Renea has kept in touch with us since that time, while she has looked for work and has prepared for school. Good Sam’s has worked with Renea providing moral support, counseling, our scholarship program, and to network with other agencies, such as Workforce Network, to help her with the financial needs she will have to go to school. Besides caring for her own two small children, Renea also takes an active part in caring for her father who has some major health issues. She is already proving her caregiving skills come naturally! We are very proud of Renea and applaud her tenacity and dedication to her family. Her desire is to provide a good life for them, full of love and happy times. We are certain that she is doing just that!

Renea recently spoke to a group of our volunteers at a breakfast hosted for them. Many hearts were touched by her story. The following is the thank-you note Renea left addressed to everyone at Cumberland Good Samaritans:

"This is written to all the volunteers and employees of CGS. Do you really know what a service you do for your community? I know what a Godsend you have been to me. So selfless and hard working, devoted to helping those who are less fortunate. You have made a difference, changed lives, and lifted the spirits of those who needed assistance. It is good to know that there is always a place to turn to. Not only do you help people financially, but also you become a trusted friend. Without the resources here, many would be homeless, hungry or without electric, kids wouldn’t have a Christmas and young mothers wouldn’t be able to get an education. So, to you..."HAT’S OFF!" And may God Bless each and every one of you. You are needed and appreciated...Renea Davenport, August, 2002"