Obituary of David Doxie Humphries, Sr.

David Doxie Humphries, Sr. was born on Feb 3, 1940 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late David Messiah Humphries and Hallie P. Humphries Washington. He is the dearly beloved husband of Rosa Lee Humphries. He has three sisters: Whynolia Merchant, Constance Mohan, and Phyllis Watkins who preceded him in death. David transitioned on December 12, 2020 to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was baptized as a child at Zion Baptist Church in East Baltimore and he was a devoted member of Union Baptist Church for 30 years. Before he passed, he told his family, "No one can tell me there is no God." David had a sense of responsibility at an early age. At seven years old, he opened and cleaned the D. Humphries Barber Shop in East Baltimore. His father, uncle, and mother were barbers. Under the tutelage of his father, he learned how to cut hair. He earned his master barber license at the age of 19 and his mother, Hallie, was his apprentice. She was one of the few female master barbers who owned her barber shop and cut hair for 50 years. David was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) and graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in 1957. David met the love of his life, Rosa Lee Washington, when she was 16 years old and he was 19 years old. Willie Foster, a dear friend, introduced them to each other. They were married in holy matrimony on July 4, 1962 and have been married for 58 years. Not only were they husband and wife, they were best friends. From this union, a daughter, Desiree Humphries Ivey, and son, David Doxie Humphries, Jr., were born. David enlisted in the U.S. Airforce and was honorably discharged. He returned to Baltimore and worked at General Motors while pursuing a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Art Education at Morgan State College. After graduating from Morgan, David began his teaching career in 1971 at Garrison Middle School where he taught art and mentored student teachers. He later attended Morgan State University and attained his Master of Science Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision in 1983. He cared about children and their well-being, wanting them to be in a safe environment so they could learn. Larry Poncho Brown, a well-known artist, was one of his former students. David didn't just teach art, he taught life skills, too. David was with the Baltimore City Public Schools for 35 years as an art teacher, a vice principal, principal and an area regional officer and leadership coach for middle school principals. He expressed that in those 35 years, the most rewarding part of his career was in the classroom, teaching art -- changing, molding, and revealing the best in every student. One day after church, a former student said, "Mr. Humphries, I thought that was you when I heard your voice." They talked. The young assistant minister and former student said he would know that voice anywhere. This happened often. Former students walked up to him and greeted him with enthusiasm. On another occasion, a young man recognized him at a stoplight. They chatted for a second. Before the light changed, he asked, "Mr. Humphries, did I do good?" Mr. Humphries smiled and replied, "Yeah, you did good!" David loved his family. He was a generous and selfless person. He was a good listener and was appreciated for the pearls of wisdom and words of encouragement he shared. He was supportive of family, friends, the church, and the community. He looked forward to family and friend gatherings, graduations, weddings, cookouts, "Oldies but Goodies" events, crab feasts, the Annual Morgan Martin Luther King breakfast, and Homecoming Gala. David was a lifetime member of Morgan State University Alumni Association, a member of Phi Delta Kappa (PDK) Educational Foundation, and a charter member of The National African American History Museum in Washington, DC. David appreciated the visual and performing arts. While in the high school marching band, he played the clarinet. He was passionate about music and was a major jazz enthusiast. Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Lee Morgan, Nina Simone, and Miles Davis were among the many musicians he liked listening to perform in local jazz clubs. David was an avid reader, and he enjoyed traveling, visiting art museums, and attending concerts, plays, lectures, and musicals. He especially appreciated the artistry, puppetry, costumes, and music of the Lion King, which was so spectacular that he and his wife saw it three times. He truly loved gardening and landscaping. His time in the garden, planting flowers, pruning rose bushes, and cutting the grass was not only therapeutic and good exercise, but was also another extension of his artistry -- another canvas without the brushes. Over the years, he and his wife stayed connected with friends and family by sending cards for all occasions. Many recipients complimented his penmanship which was also a work of art. He used to tell his students that if they could write, they could draw. He said, "Writing is drawing." His penmanship was so beautiful, people were under the impression that his wife wrote the cards. Mrs. Humphries said, "I can't take credit for that. We purchased the cards, but he did most of the writing." David was distinguished, well respected, admired, and liked by students, colleagues, and cherished friends. He leaves to cherish his memory: his devoted and loving wife, Rosa, daughter, Desiree (Warren), son, David (Sherlyn); sisters, Whynolia Merchant, Constance Mohan; sisters-in-law, Bertha Jones (deceased), Queen Esther Hamilton, Alease Mays, Beverly McCormick (Trelton), brother-in-law, Robert Washington, cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and a host of relatives and friends. In memory of David and in lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Union Baptist Church, 1211 Druid Hill Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217. Gifts will benefit Union Baptist Church Head Start.