Patricia
Morris DeVeaux (Pam) was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Jesse Morris and
the late Amanda Morris. She attended Bethel A.M.E. Church where she was an
active member of the Sunday school, youth choir, orchestra and Young
People's Division. She credits her leadership skills and spiritual
foundation to the early nurturing she experienced at the hands of loving
Bethel members.
Her academic background includes matriculation and graduation from Howard University (B.A.), where she was inducted as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, George Peabody College (Master Library Science) and Vanderbilt University (Ph.D.). Her vocational background includes positions as a high librarian, medical periodical librarian, university adjunct professor, community college administrator, program manager, and program director at the United States Department of Energy. At these positions she has held, much of her focus was concentrated upon developing and implementing initiatives designed to strengthen Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
In 1996 upon the election of her husband William Phillips DeVeaux to the position of Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, she joined him in serving in the 18th Episcopal District, which includes the countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Swaziland. With God's guidance and the support of many friends across the Connection, she led women in establishing two day care centers, providing four year scholarships to four students for study in America, convening an international conference on HIV/AIDS, building a high school media center, funding the construction of a water tower that supplies clean water to 1100 Swaziland students, conducting annual health fairs, developing the Lesotho candle and doll economic development projects, hosting five missionary sojourners and constructing the M. Joan Cousin Women's Empowerment Center.
Bishop DeVeaux was assigned in 2000 to the 16th District, which encompasses the Caribbean, parts of South America and Europe. Together, they led the District from a mission field to a mission force. In response to the needs of those communities she developed and supported the Edith White Ming Health Fairs, HIV/AIDS youth retreats, Haitian potholder economic development project, Barbados Health Fair, the Dominican Republic English speaking school, a basket ball court for community youth, marriage retreats, constructed a treatment room in Rainbow House, provided Black dolls to orphanages in Haiti, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, hosted two missionary sojourners and convened "When Women Worship . . ." Conferences.
Since coming to the Sixth District, she has written two plays (The Loud Silence, 2005; The Preacher's Son, 2006), co-authored a book of poetry entitled Black Church Gems, and is presently in the process of planning and convening a Women's Conference, Deliverance 2007!, scheduled to be hosted by the Sixth District at Turner Chapel A.M.E. in Marietta, Georgia in October/November of 2007.
Bishop and Dr. Pam have been blessed by the presence of six children Dawn, Dana, William, Paul, Robin, and David, and fourteen grandchildren, Ryanne Patricia, William Samir, William III, Alexis, Daleah, Maya, Jordan, Clayton William, Maxine, Jalen, Cameron DeVeaux, Keith David, Connor, and Malachi in their lives.
She strives to magnify God's greatness through committed service to humankind.
