DeVera Foremanye

DeVera Lynn Iyabo Foremanye, was born on April 4, 1956 to William I. Foreman, Sr. (deceased) and Edwina Foreman (deceased) and departed this life on November 13, 2017 at the age of 61. “DeDe” as she was known to by family and friends welcomed Christ into her life at an early age. She was baptized at Mt. Olivet Methodist Church and taught Sunday school for several years during her teenage years. DeDe began her education at the historic Banneker Elementary School through the third grade before integrating Catonsville Elementary School at the beginning of fourth grade. DeDe graduated from Catonsville Senior High School where she was inducted into the National Honor Society and was recognized among the “Who’s Who” list of high school students. After high school she attended Williams College, a small elite college in Williamstown, Massachusetts. While in college she competed in women’s lacrosse at the Varsity level. She graduated with honors in 1978. She earned a Masters of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1980 in Psychology and began her doctoral studies shortly thereafter at the University of Wisconsin, one of the few graduate programs with more than one African American professor. She later returned to the University of Pennsylvania to continue her doctoral program. During this time, she legally changed her last name to Foremanye to reflect her African roots. She entered the work world in 1985 working as a clinical psychologist at the world renowned Devereux Foundation in Pennsylvania. After several years at Devereux, DeDe returned to Maryland to work as a clinical psychologist in a small practice group and to teach at Essex Community College. A few years later, she opened her own solo practice called Foremanye Mental Health in York, Pennsylvania specializing in children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional needs. Although she was not able to complete her doctoral thesis, she remained vigilant in researching and documenting the misdiagnosis of juvenile and adolescent black males by her white counterparts. She endured many obstacles as she attempted to publish her findings and to correct these wrongs. DeDe was full of energy so much so that her mother called her “Jerry” after the mouse in the cartoon “Tom and Jerry” because like the mouse, she never stayed still. DeDe seemed to always be on the go. She loved spending time with family, especially her nieces and nephews. This included attending the annual Mummers parade in Philadelphia, visiting to the Philadelphia Museums, camping at numerous locations throughout Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania and beach time at Gun Powder State Park, Sandy Point State Park and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Up until the very end of her life, her car was filled with her camping gear. She was the life of the party at numerous family New Year’s Eve events either at her house or at her parent’s house. She even dressed up as a clown complete with rainbow colored hair, oversized shoes and makeup for one of her nephew’s birthday parties. She loved to dance and sing karaoke. DeDe was an avid collector of African art including ritual masks, statues and paintings. She enjoyed researching her family history, African American history and the Ancient civilizations of Africa.

Tributes

DeVera Foremanye

April 4, 1956 - November 13, 2017