Emanuel DeFoe

Emanuel “Manny” DeFoe, 92, of Deltona, Florida, passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026. He was born on December 5, 1933, in Dominica, British West Indies, to Tyrell DeFoe and Edna John. Emanuel will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and unwavering dedication to his community.

Emanuel immigrated to the United States in 1963, beginning his journey as a farm worker in Windsor, Connecticut. He later found his calling in the insurance industry, joining John Hancock, where he excelled for over 30 years and was honored numerous times as Top Insurance Agent of the Year. He joined Composite Lodge No. 22 in 1980, where he remained an active and dedicated member.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Rhona, with whom he shared 49 years of marriage. After retiring, they moved to Deltona in 1994. There, Emanuel became one of the founding members of Deltona Lodge 756, Emanuel committed himself wholeheartedly to the principles of mentorship, charitable giving, and volunteer services. A faithful servant of the Lord, he has been a member of Trinity Church of Deltona for 30 years.

He was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and uncle whose greatest joy was his family. His generous spirit, and legendary Thanksgiving turkey will forever be cherished by all who knew him.

Emanuel enjoyed fishing, gardening, reading, traveling, and cheering on his New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox—especially on the days they would win.

He was truly a man ahead of his time. Long before YouTube existed, he could fix anything and was HGTV long before it existed—remodeling rooms, painting, laying tile, and building a picnic table. And whenever there was a household mystery, he became the family’s very own CSI—determined to solve the case.

A gifted storyteller, Emanuel loved sharing stories of his life’s journey of his move to the United States, his childhood adventures in Dominica, and the trouble he got into along the way. His stories were more than memories; they were experiences brought to life through his charisma and humor, leaving everyone eager to hear more.

He was deeply knowledgeable about world history and had a great love for music, often enjoyed singing and dancing.

His passion for gardening was unmatched. Emanuel didn’t just have a green thumb—he had a green hand. Everything he planted flourished. He found pure joy in growing tropical treasures such as yams, bananas, callaloo, and an abundance of vegetables. If it could grow, Emanuel could grow it!

In addition to his wife Rhona, he leaves to mourn his passing his children: Francis DeFoe, Griffin (Jean) DeFoe, Josephine DeFoe, Tyrell (Mary) Alexander, Suprina Alexander Williams, Andrea Christie, Danue (Kim) Brown, Delain (Orville) Dunn, Wayne (Monitta) Brown, and Leighton Brown, 20 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Leo DeFoe and Cosmos DeFoe; and his sisters Theresa DeFoe McLawrence and Catherine DeFoe Burton. He was predeceased by his brothers Leslie DeFoe, Phillip DeFoe, and Jones DeFoe, and his sister Dora DeFoe. He leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who will miss him dearly.

As we mourn Emanuel’s passing, we also celebrate his remarkable life. Death is not an end but a transition to a new beginning. One of his favorite sayings when asked how he was doing was, “I’m ok—what’s left of me” His legacy will continue to shine brightly, and his memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.