Paul Joseph Sousa

SOUSA MOBILE, AL Paul Joseph Sousa, age 84, a native of Pittsburgh, PA, and a longtime resident of Mobile, Alabama, passed away Sunday, October 10, 2021. Mr. Sousa received a B.S. Degree in Mathematics from William Carey University in 1962, and a M.S. Degree in Administration from the University of South Alabama in 1968, and an Education Specialist Degree in Administration from the University of Alabama in 1970. He devoted thirty-six years to public education within the Mobile County School System. Early in his career, he taught algebra and coached basketball at Clark Middle School and Mary G. Montgomery High School. He was an assistant principal at Williamson High School and Murphy High School and then principal of Phillips Middle School, Theodore High School, and Murphy High School. Under his leadership, Murphy was the first public school in Mobile selected as a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education. While at Murphy, he was nominated by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as one of the top 25 principals in the nation. In 1987, he served as the Deputy Superintendent of Mobile County School System and then Superintendent from 1992 to 1998. During his tenure as Superintendent, he resolved the 37 year Birdie Mae Davis lawsuit to end segregation in the school system, implemented the largest building program without increasing taxes, increased the bond rating from B to AAA, increased state test scores systemwide above the national average, and was selected Alabama’s PTA Outstanding Superintendent of the Year. He was a delegate to College Board, National College Services Assembly, National Association of Secondary School Principals, and Phi Delta Kappa. He served as president of the Mobile chapters of Phi Delta Kappa and the Alabama Council of School Administrators and Supervisors. After he retired from the Mobile County School System, he was employed by HOAR Construction as their program management education consultant for Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Also, he was chief negotiator for forming Saraland City Schools, Satsuma City Schools, and Chickasaw City Schools and served as interim superintendent for the Saraland and Chickasaw school systems. His civic affiliations included Mobile Rotary Club, Leadership Mobile Education Committee, Mayor of Mobile Long Range Planning Committee, Team Focus, Mobile Touchdown Club, Mobile Senior Bowl Transportation Committee, Mobile GMAC Bowl Selection Committee, and the Outstanding Athlete Committee for the United States Sports Academy. In 2011, he was inducted into William Carey University’s Hall of Fame. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Judith Evans Sousa of Mobile, daughter Kristen Sousa Pollard and her husband James Edwin Pollard II of Point Clear, nephews, nieces, and other relatives. The family wishes to express sincere thanks to neighbor and friend Larry Foster for special assistance. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at Pinecrest Funeral Home’s Chapel on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, at 1:00 pm. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm. Graveside service will follow. In memory of Paul Sousa, contributions may be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/gifts.