Joseph A. Devance

On May 5, 2005, Joseph Anthony DeVance, beloved son of the late Joseph and Daisy DeVance, went home to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.Joseph Anthony DeVance was born on September 3, 1955, in Baltimore Maryland. Joseph, the youngest of seven children, was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools. He attended and graduated with honors from Northern High School. He also graduated with honors from Morgan State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree. After working several years as a laboratory technician in the Agricultural Pesticides Division, of the FMC Corporation, Joseph enrolled in the College of Dentistry at Howard University. Later Joseph attended Johns Hopkins University where he received his Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science. At the time of his passing, Joseph was a doctorial candidate in Public Health, at Morgan State University.Junior, as he is affectionately called by family members, founded and was the president of the Joseph DeVance Chapter of IMHOTEP, and Honor Society of graduate students of public health. The chapter was named in honor of his father, who consistently preached the value of an education.Joseph was also very active in the community, especially with the NAACP. He served as Medical Chairman for the Baltimore Chapter for a number of years. Joseph was last employed as a Public Health Laboratory Scientist IV, with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, for the past 13 years.Above all, Junior loved the Lord. He accepted Christ at an early age, and attended Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. In 1993, he joined the Ark Church, under the leadership of Pastor J. L. Carter. Joseph was highly committed to service in the church until his recent illness. He was active in the Evangelization Ministry and enjoyed feeding and clothing the disadvantaged. He was also a devoted member of Men’s Ministry, and served briefly on the Men’s Choir. Junior loved meeting and being with people, and gave freely of his freely of his time and resources never seeking anything in return.Joseph leaves to cherish his loving memory: two sisters, Zenith McCoy and Pauline DeVance; four brothers and sisters-in-law; Pastors Curtis and Celestyne DeVance of Urbandale, Iowa; James and Lauretta DeVance, William and Doretha DeVance and Jeff and Gaile DeVance; one aunt, Vicie Norris of Chattanooga, Tennessee; one uncle, Lewis Martin of Camphill, Alabama; a best friend, Yvonne Tal-Sen-Choy; friends, Ernestine Carrington DeVance and Lacy and Barbara Brock; and a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and family and friends.

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Joseph A. Devance

September 3, 1955 - May 5, 2005