Dorothy Elizabeth DEVEAUX

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Jan. 25, 1931 -- Departed on Oct. 12, 2005 and resided in Philadelphia, PA. -- Dorothy Elizabeth was born on January 25, 1931 to the union of Joseph H. and Pearl Ellis DeVeaux. She was the fifth child and the first daughter of their seven children. Overcoming childhood diseases Dorothy grew strong and healthy in a God fearing Christian home where she was introduced to the Lord. The DeVeaux family attended the Mt. Olivet Tabernacle Baptist Church, where Dorothy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior. There she was baptized under the pastorate of the late Rev. Dr. Marshall L. Shepard Sr. at the tender age of ten years old. Dorothy served on the Junior Usher Board and as a Junior Missionary as well as being a faithful Sunday school attendant. As a teenager Dorothy sang on the Young Adult Choir and the Joseph Henderson Accapella Choir. She was also the president of the church’s female softball team and basketball team the Alcadebs.Dorothy was educated in the Philadelphia public school system, graduating from Overbrook High School in January 1949. She attended Hampton University of one semester studying mortuary science.On August 28, 1954 Dorothy married her childhood friend, George C. Berry. After 13 years of marriage, enjoying the many nieces and nephews and traveling extensively they were blessed with two daughters, Anisa F. and Joyce N. Berry.Dorothy was employed by Peter Piper a children’s clothier and after almost twenty years of service she retired from the Philadelphia Board of Education. Never being one to sit still she began to work as a security officer for SpectraGuard/Allied Barton at the University of Pennsylvania until her health no longer permitted.Dorothy joined the New Macedonia Baptist Church under the direction of the Rev. John B. Brown where she rededicated her life to the Lord. At Macedonia, she held positions as President and Vice President of the Senior Choir. She was faithful to her choir and her pastor. On August 21, 2001; Dorothy along with her pastor and several members march into the newly formed New Spring Baptist Church. At New Spring Dorothy held the office of Vice President of the Senior Choir until the Lord called her home.To the Deveaux-Ellis family, Dorothy is considered one of its historians, having been instrumental in organizing a family club, and our family reunions.Dorothy is survived by: her husband of fifty-one years, George; two daughters, Anisa F. Berry and Joyce N. Thornsberry; one son-in-law, Lamar Thornsberry; two granddaughters, Amber Dawson and Joelle Hill all of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two brothers, George (Lillian) DeVeaux of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and William (Ruth) DeVeaux of Washington, D.C.; two sisters, O’Hilda (Eugene) Starks and Pearl L. DeVeaux both of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; two brothers that preceded her in death, Joseph and Robert DeVeaux both of California; a devoted nephew, Christopher Odom; along with a host of caring and loving nieces, nephews, cousins, adopted siblings, adopted children and friends.