Devoyd Jennings

“I press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. "Philippians 3:14

Devoyd “Dee”  Jennings, 73 years old, passed away on Saturday, July 24, 2021, at his home in Fort Worth, Texas.  He was born on September 10, 1947, in Los Angeles, California to William and Margaret Robinson Jennings.

Devoyd was preceded in death by his father; grandson, Gerome DelShawn Jennings and nephew, Desmond Dominique Jennings.

Devoyd grew up in Fort Worth, Texas.  He graduated from I. M. Terrell High School in Fort Worth, Texas.  After high school, he attended Tarrent County Community College and Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Texas where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.  He began working for Texas Electric (TU Electric) as a Consumer Specialist in 1973, he retired after 27 years.  He was involved in many civic organizations, he was President/CEO of Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of Texas Wesleyan University, Member of the Texas Association of Business, Honoree of Fort Worth’s “DEVOYD JENNINGS DAY”.  Devoyd successfully collaborated on various ventures throughout Fort Worth.  He was successful in having his elementary school, G. W. Carver, refurbished and it now houses the Fort Worth Housing Authority.  This also led to the reopening of I. M. Terrell High School as an elementary school and the I. M. Terrell Academy for STEM and VPA.  He was instrumental with the Black Chamber of Commerce to establish two emerging leadership programs, Paths Forward and Black Resourceful Innovators Developing Generations of Excellence (BRIDGE).  Both were designed to develop leaders for the organization and the City of Fort Worth.

Devoyd was happily married to Gwen Barbee for 41 years.  He enjoyed listening to jazz music, playing basketball, being an active alumni for his I. M. Terrell class of 1966, and working to help others.

Devoyd is survived by his spouse, Gwen; two sons, Col. Charles DelShawn Jennings (Michelle), of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Robert Mark Ezell  (Kim Alexander) of Fort Worth, Texas, and; three daughters, Demeka Jennings-Johnson (Michael) of Toms River, New Jersey, Carla Clark (Robert), Fort Worth, Texas; Sharla Sutton-Campbell, Fort Worth, Texas; mother, Margaret Jennings; two brothers, Melvin Jennings (Carrie Ann), Point, Texas, and Jerry Jennings (Lynette), Fort Worth, Texas; Devoyd’s grandchildren are Jasmine Jennings-Crenshaw (Craig), Jordan Jennings, Isis Davis, Kyzier Davis, Zion Davis, Anthony Ezell, Dominique Ezell, Lala Ezell, Jared Morgan, Yancy Clark, and a great granddaughter, Princess Clar Ezell; godson, Forrest Conner and children, Kyra Conner, Forrest Conner Jr., Giovanni Conner, Jeremiah Conner, Lorenzo Conner.  He had nephews, Dedrail Jennings and Christopher Jennings and other relatives and friends.

A visitation service will be held at Emerald Hills Funeral Home, 500 Kennedale Sublett Road, Kennedale, Texas 76060, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., on July 30, 2021.  A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Road, Arlington, Texas 76016, at 10:00 a.m., on July 31, 2021, directly following the Mass, burial will be held at the Emerald Hills Memorial Park. The family will greet friends and relatives at the Forest Hills Civic Center, 6901 Wichita Street, Forest Hills, Texas, directly following the burial.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and Emerald Hills Funeral Home.