DeVonta Smith, the electrifying wide receiver of the Philadelphia Eagles, has taken the football world by storm with his lightning-fast speed and incredible agility. But behind every successful athlete is a supportive family that helps shape their journey. Meet Kelvin Dickerson, Smith’s father, and Christina Smith-Sylve, his mother, who have been instrumental in his life and career!

Kelvin, a constant presence in DeVonta Smith’s life, has provided guidance and encouragement, while Christina, a pillar of strength, has nurtured his passion for football. Together, they have instilled in Smith the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. In this article, we’ll explore the lives of Kelvin and Christina, their relationship, and the impact they’ve had on DeVonta Smith’s life, both on and off the field.

Meet DeVonta Smith’s parents Kelvin Dickerson and Christina Smith-Sylve

Parents Kelvin Dickerson and Christina Smith-Sylve reared DeVonta Smith in Amite City, Louisiana. Kelvin works as the manager of a vehicle detailing shop. Smith was raised by his mother Christina Smith-Sylve. Despite their separation, DeVonta Smith’s parents shared a “great co-parenting relationship.”

Smith’s mother also explained, “His dad is quiet.” Smith has got that calm and a little reserved nature from his father. Kelvin Dickerson worked very hard. On the weekends, Smith would typically see his father, who oversaw a vehicle polishing company. According to him, his father was a “neat freak,” which fits in nicely with his line of work. Smith remarked, “With him, it’s really just about the details in everything you do.”

Zephaniah Powell, one of Smith’s high school coaches, mentioned that Smith’s parents were incredibly encouraging and consistently showed up to all of his games, both at home and away.

Smith’s mother claimed that although his family wasn’t particularly wealthy when he was growing up, they were nevertheless better off than some. His mother informed the NFL player, who has received accolades for his maturity and humility, “We don’t have a lot,” she recalled to the Inquirer. “But what we do have, we value it, and some people are not fortunate [enough] to have what you have.”

DeVonta Smith told GQ that he used to play football outside with his pals all the time, but his mother made sure he was safe by telling him he had to be home when the street lights turned on. He used to spend his weekends fishing or riding four-wheelers through the woods with his father. “We find something new every day,” he said of his adventures in the woods with his father. “It’s real country, country wit’ my dad.”

Smith even purchased a new home for his mother Smith-Sylve. His mother went through the front doorway, past the garage where two automobiles were parked, and hugged him while sobbing. A sizable front yard with trees and a tiny garden is seen in the video.

In an emotional interview following his son’s Heisman Trophy victory, his father expressed how much he appreciated their time together. “He’s been the best thing that probably could have ever happened to me.”

DeVonta Smith’s mother’s career is an inspiration for him

Christina Smith-Sylve, DeVonta Smith’s mother, grew up in the southeast Louisiana town of Amite, which is well-known for its oyster business. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, she was an athlete like her son and played basketball at Amite High Magnet School, the same institution that the NFL player would eventually attend. After studying more about the field during her high school career day and enrolling at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Smith-Sylve made the decision to pursue a career in social work. According to her LinkedIn profile, she earned a bachelor’s degree in social work in 1998.

She told the Inquirer that her pregnancy wasn’t intended, but she found out she was expecting Smith before she graduated from college, and he was born later that year. “It was a surprise. Nothing planned. But that happens,” she told the publication. “It was hard work and determination to complete it and graduate.”

According to Smith-Sylve’s LinkedIn profile, she started her career as a social worker in 2006 while her son was still a little child, working as a Child Welfare Specialist for the Department of Children and Family Services in Amite. Smith said that her work had a long-lasting effect on him and that he was always concerned for her safety when she was summoned to assist families in need, sometimes even in the middle of the night.

Smith told how his mother would frequently have to leave him and his brother with a family member as she attended to a matter when the phone rang at night. In order to remove children from challenging situations and attempt to prevent things from getting worse, she occasionally traveled alone, but other times she was joined by a coworker or a law enforcement officer, according to the Inquirer.

Devonta Smith expressed his concern about his mother. “All the time” he tries to accompany her. “I always asked, ‘Is this a time I can come?” he shared. “You go into families’ houses and take their children away from them. … It’s not always the easiest job. I’ve been there when I’ve heard things [said to her] and it wasn’t so safe.”

“I’ve always wanted her to not be doing it, but I mean, that’s what she went to school for, that’s what she likes, that’s what she enjoys doing,” he continued. “I can’t blame her for that, but I always wish she was in a different situation.” He claimed that even though her employment caused him stress, he thinks it improved him as a son since it exposed him to what occurred in other families.

“I would never want to put my mom in a situation like that,” he shared. “So I always try to do the right things, always try to be on the right path.”

DeVonta Smith’s remarkable achievements are deeply rooted in the love and guidance of his parents, Kelvin Dickerson and Christina Smith-Sylve. Their dedication and values have shaped him into the exceptional athlete and person he is today.