William P. DeVeaux
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 the ordained ministry. Following in 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 Scared 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 AME 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 to 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 fifteen grandchildren. Bishop DeVeaux remains steadfast is his
belief that he can best serve Jesus by, ‘’Ordering his steps in the Lord.”
Dr. Patricia Morris DeVeaux
Dr. Patricia Morris DeVeaux (Pam) was born in Wilmington,
Delaware to the late Jesse and 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, Sr. 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 three plays (The Loud Silence, 2005; The
Preacher's Son, 2006; Grandma Shows Up & God Steps In, 2010),
co-authored a book of poetry entitled Black Church Gems (2005), and has
convened the Deliverance Women’s Conference, hosted by the Sixth District at
Turner Chapel A.M.E. in Marietta, Georgia, October 2007, 2009, and upcoming in
October 2011.
Bishop
and Dr. Pam have been blessed by the presence of six children (Dawn, Dana,
William, Paul, Robin, and David), and fifteen grandchildren, (Ryanne Patricia,
William Samir, William III, Alexis, Daleah, Maya, Jordan, Clayton William,
Maxine, Jalen, Cameron DeVeaux, Keith David, Connor, Malachi, and Joshua) in
their lives.
