William
P. DeVeaux was born to Chaplain John and Della DeVeaux in Fort Huachuca,
Arizona. The youngest of three children, he spent his elementary and high
school years living on army posts in Maryland, Kansas, Colorado, and in
Germany. Upon graduation from high school he entered Howard University. An
active student, he was elected junior and senior class president and
Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. While a student at Howard, he
answered the call to ordained ministry. Following I his father’s footsteps
he served in the United States Army as a chaplain. In the midst of enemy
fire, he brought comfort and solace to troops in combat during the Viet Nam
Conflict.
In addition to a bachelor`s degree from Howard University, he attained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Boston University as well as a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. He has served on the faculties of Meharry Medical College, Princeton Theological Seminary and Howard University School of Divinity.
In the field of theological education, Dr. DeVeaux is recognized for his achievements as the Executive Director of the Fund for Theological Education Inc. During his tenure, scholarships to Black, Hispanic and North American students were granted to support their theological education.
His career as a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church includes pastorates at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Lynn, MA; St. John A.M.E. Church in Nashville, TN; Wayman A.M.E. Church in Dayton, OH and Metropolitan A.M.E. Church in Washington, DC. He served at Metropolitan from 1986 until his election to the office of Bishop. Using his personal leadership style, academic expertise and his diverse ministerial experience, Bishop DeVeaux energized the church membership into active participants in community outreach efforts.
On July 2, 1996 the Reverend William P. DeVeaux was consecrated as the 113th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky and was assigned to Southern Africa where he lived and served for four years. He also served as the presiding bishop of the 16th Episcopal District of the A.M.E. Church which includes the following conferences: Guyana/Suriname, Windward Islands, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, and London/Holland. He is currently the bishop assigned o the Sixth Episcopal District, the state of Georgia.
Bishop DeVeaux and Dr. Pam DeVeaux have parented six children, a host of sons and daughters in the gospel and they have fourteen grandchildren. Bishop DeVeaux remains steadfast in his belief that he can best serve Jesus by, "Ordering his steps in the Lord."
