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He was known as a hard worker, a quality reflected in both his personal and professional life.

Oliver J Devone "Buddy", born July 27, 1930, in Pender County, North Carolina, passed away on October 10, 2026, in Massachusetts. He lived a long life marked by steady work, devotion to family, and enduring ties to the place where his life began.

A graduate of Pender County Training School in Rocky Point, North Carolina, Mr. Devone carried the values of hard work with him throughout his life. He was known as a hard worker, a quality reflected in both his personal and professional life. He worked within the MTA transit system, a role that became one more part of the story of his working years. For 35 years, he served as a leading agent with Mutual of Omaha, building a career of notable dedication and accomplishment.

Mr. Devone also answered the call to military service. He was drafted on January 18, 1952, and was honorably discharged on December 21, 1953. His service stands as an important part of his life and legacy.

In retirement, he found joy in returning to North Carolina, traveling back to his childhood home and revisiting his home church. Those trips reflected the lasting importance of home, memory, and faith in his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Willie Wilson Devone; his mother, Ethel Pridgen Devone; and his daughter, Shelia Devone.

He is survived by his sons, Kenneth Devone of Hyde Park, Reginald Devone of Hyde Park, Don Martin of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Oliver Singleton of Boston, Massachusetts, and Nathaniel; by his daughter-in-law, Tuva; and by his grandchildren Tazz Devone, Tara Devone, and Nivada Devone. He is also survived by his sister, Eula D. Armstrong of Conyers, Georgia, and her husband, Edward, as well as his brother-in-law, Whittaker Mack of Summerville, South Carolina.

Mr. Devone’s circle of loved ones also included Barbara Lowe of Boston, a very dear and special friend; Doris Canady of Wilmington, North Carolina; Judy Hicks of Burgaw, North Carolina; and John O'Neal of Boston, Massachusetts, all cherished as very close friends. Their presence in his life speaks to the meaningful friendships he maintained over the years. Along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends he met along his journey.

Funeral services for Mr. Devone will be held on October 22, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Davis Funeral Home, 654 Cummins Highway, Boston, Massachusetts 02126. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, 355 Walk Hill Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02131. Services are entrusted to Davis Funeral Home of Mattapan, Massachusetts.

Oliver J Devone will be remembered with respect and gratitude for his years of work, his military service, his connection to family and home, and the many relationships that shaped his life.