Bishop Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald Deason

Bishop Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald Deason passed from this world into the loving hands of his Savior on November 23, 2019. Loved and respected by many as a man of God who adored his wife, family and friends, Dr. Deason was born in Houston Texas on August 17, 1964. Early in life, his talent and charm were evident to others, and he quickly became known as a leader and also as a friend to all he met. It was also during this time he developed a lifelong friendship with Carl Hilton, Eugene Scott, Alex Givens, and the love of his Graduating Class, Ball High, 1982. Dr. Deason lived in Los Angeles, California, for part of his teenage years. There, he had experiences that would forever broaden his understanding of people from all walks of life. It is there he developed a passion for achieving harmony among people of all races and beliefs. During his early years, Dr. Deason’s talent as a chef was also cultivated and celebrated. His talent for music was also discovered – his rich voice and amazing range will always be remembered. From childhood, Dr. Deason’s first love was his grandmother, “Mommie”, Christene Goudeau. But in 2010, Dr. Deason’s life took a dramatic turn when he was reunited with the second love of his life, Caroline Curtis Deason of Natchez, and their son, Kenderick Curtis, whom he had never known. Dr. Deason had met Caroline in his hometown of Houston when he was twenty and she was eighteen, and theirs was an amazing love story. In time, Dr. Deason left his position as a Chef on an off-shore oil rig in the Gulf and moved to Natchez to build a life with Caroline and their family. It was during this time that Dr. Deason felt a renewed call to preach – a calling he had fulfilled earlier in life – a calling he knew he must answer. In 2014, Dr. Deason established New Direction Outreach Ministries. He also began a Christian Counseling Ministry, and on the side shared his talent as a chef with many in Natchez, as Food Service Manager at Monmouth Historic Inn and as Chef at GardenSong B&B, where he developed a friendship with Dan Gibson. Theirs would be a bond of love and mutual respect that would survive all. Dr. Deason was also owner of two businesses, “Katering by Kevin” and “Deason Management”.  When diagnosed with cancer in 2018, Dr. Deason did not allow his illness to impede his progress. He continued his education, earning his doctorate and also achieving the position of Bishop in his church. He also served as the leader of Team Natchez 2019, Real Men Wear Pink, raising nearly $15,000 for cancer research. His last public appearance was at the Team Natchez Finale on October 28th where over $4,000 was raised in a single night. Dr. Deason’s testimony is one of overcoming – overcoming drug and alcohol addiction and numerous other challenges to become the servant leader that God had destined for him to be. He put others ahead of himself at all times, and he left the world a better place. Dr. Deason received his  wings on November 23, 2019, at 12:30 a.m. at University Medical Center. Dr. Deason is preceded in death by his mother Carole Goudeau, grandson Brandon Curtis, Jr., paternal grandmother Pearl Deason, and mother-in-law Louise Myles-Dunmore. Dr. Deason leaves behind his loving wife, Caroline Curtis Deason, maternal grandmother, Christene Goudeau, father Clarence Deason, Sr. (Mary), father-in-law Horace Dunmore Sr., two sons, Kenderick Curtis (Jehannah), Brandon Curtis, Sr. (Deloris), three daughters, Princess Harris, Ashley Taylor, and Tequana Curtis, two brothers, Clarence Deason, Jr., Carl Deason, three sisters, DJuana Johnson, Elizabeth “Pebbles” Webb, Celisa Deason, thirteen grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, six brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, a special sister-in-law Pamela Williams, Best Friends Carl Hilton, Eugene Scott, Alex Givens, special friends Dan Gibson, Dr. Olivia Mayberry, Lavonne Smoot-Lee, one aunt and two uncles. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Dr. Deason on Saturday, November 30, 2019, at 11 am at New Hope The Vision Center, 410 Morgantown Rd., Natchez. Memorial donations in honor of Dr. Deason may be made to New Direction Outreach Ministries, 200 Oak St., Natchez, MS  39120. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to assist the Deason family during this difficult time and ask that you continue to keep them lifted up in prayer.