Louisiana-Mississippi Conference President, 1926-1932
His Early Years
Frederick Henry DeVinney was born on April 19, 1862, in Kelloggsville, New York to Francis and Wealtha DeVinney. He was the youngest of four children. On February 20, 1886, he married Gertrude Hardy in Illinois and to this union three children were born, Nina, Fred, and Lucy. Elder DeVinney and his wife were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist church in Syracuse, New York. Having received a good education and since he was a young man of promise and real ability, he was urged to enter the ministry. As a prerequisite, he became a colporteur for a period of time. He then entered the ministry, until his wife died in 1905, proving to be a blessing.
Years of Ministry and Mission Service
About a year later, Elder DeVinney was called to the presidency of the Eastern New York conference. On September 15, 1907, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Minnie Althouse Howland of Flint, Michigan. In June 1910, Elder DeVinney was called to the presidency of the Japan Union. In later years he became one of the vice-presidents of the Asiatic Division, continuing his residence in Japan. In 1920, Elder DeVinney went to China as the president of the Southern China Union. He labored untiringly and faithfully for the great cause of missions in the Orient until 1926, when he returned to the United States.
In October 1926, he was called to be the president of the Louisiana-Mississippi conference, with headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi. He served in that position until 1932, at which time he became the pastor of the Jackson Seventh-day Adventist church.
His Retirement Years
In 1938, failing health made it necessary for Elder F. H. DeVinney to retire. He passed away on October 25, 1943, in Jackson, Mississippi. He was buried in the Lakewood Memorial Park. His wife, Minnie, was buried next to him after her death in 1946.
Citations
(1943, Oct. 26). Retired Minister Dies at Hospital. Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi, p. 1.
Halliday, M. (2015, Nov. 15). The Journey’s End. Retrieved from ancestry.com.
U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Volume #: Volume 001: Japan. Retrieved from ancestry.com.
How it all Began 