Arthur Leonard De' Souza George

Rev. Arthur L. De’Souza George (retired) passed away peacefully at home on August 4, 2020. He was 77 years old. He was preceded in death by his father Edward Crispin Denison George; mother Elvina Leonarda Batista George (née Souza); Brothers Ralph George, Elvino George, sr, and Alfred De’Souza George; Sister Edna George.

Arthur was born in Freetown Sierra Leone on June 17, 1943 to loving parents Edward and Elvina George. The sixth of ten siblings, Arthur grew up esteeming the values of family and education. He attended the Dolly Spencer Memorial School and St John Brookfields Schools in Freetown. Once complete, he took the Common Entrance Examination, and entered the West African Methodist (W.A.M.) Collegiate School.

After he completed his secondary school education, Arthur applied for a holiday job at the newly established Central Statistics Office. While there he showed an aptitude for analysis and processing and ultimately obtained a permanent position in the office as a Data Processing Assistant and he never looked back. Through dedication, technical training, and perseverance moved his way up the ranks. As a young man, he always valued the words and lessons of his father. One belief that he carried with him was that we are all “Citizens of the World”. Young Arthur internalized that belief and when presented the opportunity, traveled the world, visiting countries like Ghana, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom as part of his professional and educational pursuits.

His desire to further his education ultimately led to him immigrating to the United States. Early on, Arthur became a valued member of the Sierra Leonean community while pursuing his education. He successfully obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Data Processing Management, Magna Cum Laude from Strayer University and then a Masters in Information Sciences from American University.

Though in the states, he maintained strong ties to Sierra Leone. He stayed connected with his family members and provided support in multiple ways. He also held strong ties to his beloved W.A.M. Collegiate School and wanted to help ensure that alumni had a mechanism to continue to provide long term support while in the States. He was one of the founders of the U.S. Chapter of the Collegiate Old Boys Alumni Association and served as its first president.

Arthur and his family were heavily involved in the church community at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, MD. They were active members and played many roles in worship. It was through his experience at St. Paul’s that Arthur felt the call to ministry. He sharpened his knowledge and craft through lay speaking and, sought guidance from trusted pastors. He ultimately accepted God’s call on is life and began his theological studies at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He obtained his Master of Divinity degree in 1994 and not long after was ordained as an Elder and Full member of the United Methodist Church in 1996.

Rev. De’Souza George ministered to several congregations on the Eastern Shore of Maryland as part of the Peninsula-Delaware conference. One of his most impactful appointments was as pastor of Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Snow Hill, MD. During his tenure he established Oasis Ministries which brought a community together to work for the common good. The ministry worked with local management and community organizations establishing a community-wide newsletter celebrating the lives of community members as well as The Haven House, an after-school tutorial program for children. For his work with the Oasis Ministries, Rev. De’ Souza George received commendations from the Governor of Maryland.

Rev. De’ Souza George retired from ministry in 2012 and settled in Denton, Maryland, with his wife Julia George. In his new found free time, he enjoyed sports, especially watching and playing golf. He also loved a good political debate and could spend countless hours watching his daily news programs and having spirited discussions about the state of world affairs.

Rev. De’ Souza George is survived by his wife Julia George (née Blake); his children Michelle George, Sean George, and Pinckney Griffin; siblings Victoria Crankson, Alice Lansana, Raymond De’Souza George, and Isabel De’Souza George; countless nieces and nephews, and extended family across the globe. He was a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, mentor, and friend to many and will be greatly missed.