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USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

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. And for DeVonta it’s his parents who have been instrumental in his life and career! Let’s know more about them one by one.

Who is DeVonta Smith’s father?

Kelvin Dickerson is the father of DeVonta Smith. He has provided guidance and encouragement and has nurtured his passion for football. He has instilled in Smith the values of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.

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DeVonta Smith was born in Amite City, Louisiana. And there Kelvin works as the manager of a vehicle detailing shop. Smith was raised by his mother who is no longer together with his dad. Despite their separation, DeVonta Smith’s parents shared a “great co-parenting relationship.” 

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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 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.

 

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Who is DeVonta Smith’s mother?

Christina Smith-Sylve is DeVonta Smith’s mother. She 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.”

 

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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.

DeVonta 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.

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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.

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