Deverna Alphonzo Armstrong was born to Lafayette Alphonzo Armstrong and Dorothy Mae Slater Armstrong on August 3, 1953 in Salina, KS. The Lord took him home on Friday, November 3, 2017. Deverna was a member of New St. James AME Church. He indeed knew and loved the Lord. He attended Carver High School and was a graduate of Oscar Smith High School, class of 1971. He worked at Berkley Shipyard and Christ and St. Luke's Church in Norfolk, VA. He had two nicknames one was "Boogie" given to him by an aunt, the other was "Mighty Gee" given to him by his brother Thaddeus. He loved to pray at family functions and sometimes he would cry and you could not understand a word he was saying until he said amen. Deverna was blessed with a gifted memory, as he could recall everyone's birthday in the entire family. Every Friday his younger siblings always looked forward to him giving them money to attend the high school football game and he never disappointed them. Deverna would walk everywhere; if someone would stop to offer him a ride he would say "No, I am alright you go ahead".

Deverna was predeceased by his father and mother Lafayette and Dorothy Armstrong; a sister Sabrina Armstrong, a brother Thaddeus Armstrong and a special friend, Robin McClarty.

He is survived by his five children, Keishara McClarty, Darion McClarty, Deonte' McClarty and Devonte' McClarty all of Virginia, and Tsai Madsen (Eric) of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by four sisters, Debra Smith (James) and Shelia Lewis both of Chesapeake, VA, Phyllis Stallworth of Baltimore, MD. and Robin Slater of Chesapeake, VA - four brothers, Lafayette O. Armstrong (Barbara) of Sumter SC, Mickey Armstrong (Cassandra) of Chesapeake, VA, Earnest Armstrong (Pam) of Norfolk, VA and Antonio Armstrong (Teresa) of Chesapeake, VA.- aunts Gardenia "Gar" Slater and Fredia Burney both of Chesapeake, VA. and uncles Sylvester "Junior" Slater of Mt. Rainer, MD and Overton "Bunny" Nichols of Chesapeake, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Viewing of the body will be Friday, November 10, 2017 from 5:00p.m.-7:00p.m. at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, 500 Liberty Street, Chesapeake, VA 23324. Home Going Services for Deverna "Boogie" Armstrong will be held on Saturday,  November 11, 2017, 11:00 a.m. at New Saint James A.M.E. Church, 501 Dinwiddie Street, Norfolk, VA 23523. James A.M.E. Church, 501 Dinwiddie Street, Norfolk, VA 23523.