Donald Philip Dees Sr.

DONALD PHILIP DEES, 72, passed away on January 27, 2026, in Ocean Springs, MS.

Mr. Dees was born in Pascagoula, MS to Crawford and Irene Dees. He was the only son in a family with five girls. He was employed by Ingalls Shipbuilding for many years and also served as a US Marine being honorably discharged. Don had three great loves. His God; His Family, and Martial Arts. On January 18, 2026, he was inducted into the MS Karate Association 2025 Black Belt Hall of Fame, holding a sixth degree blackbelt in Tang Soo Do. He became Master Donny Dees. His love for training and teaching this art was obvious to all.

In April of 1987, he established True Word Ministries, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) Non-Profit with the State of Mississippi. In earlier years he had an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ which motivated him to spread the “good news” of the gospel. Through the years a church was formed but the main thrust of the non-profit was to minister to the community and into other nations, preaching and teaching the gospel through gospel crusades. He traveled into Africa and held evangelistic crusades seeing many come to the Lord Jesus Christ and many miracles performed.

Don was the author of sixteen (16) Christian books, which are listed on Amazon.com. In July of 2000 he passed his mantle of President of TWM, to his sister Rev. Lou Ellen Hoffman, maintaining a board position. The ministry continued into the Philippines and a TWM Philippine Extension Office was organized there. A school of training for Pastors was established with his books being used as the primary curriculum for the training of Filipino pastors. Major conferences and crusades also utilized his many teachings as souls were added into the Kingdom of God with 25-30 people being baptized in one baptismal service being held in the river; just one of many services held.

As a result of this ministry being organized through Don’s vision, in August of 2025, TWM received a 4.25acre property, with a church building, and a small house located on it. The decision was made to establish this into a We Care Community Center with a Food Pantry. The Food Pantry was previously established in 2013 as one of the outreach ministries of TWM. It was decided and approved to be the base of operation for TWM in the US. Its main goal: help people! Only heaven knows the extent and impact of this one man, Donald P. Dees who had a heart for God and a desire to reach out to others. He was not a perfect man, but was very much a forgiven man.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Crawford and Camellia Irene Dees and two sisters, Lois Mark and GayNelle Walker.

He is survived by two children, D. Philip Dees Jr and his wife, Starla and Ralph L. Dees and his wife Rhonda; three sisters, Martha Coody, Lou Ellen Hoffman and Diane McKinney; four grandchildren, Julien River Dees, Baylor Payne Dees, Ralph Dees II and Camellia Dees; three step grandchildren, Alexis Emanuel, Dominque Emanuel and Malachi Emanuel; five great-grandchildren and five step-great- grandchildren and numerous other friends and relatives.

Visitation will be Monday, February 2, 2026 from 12 noon-1pm at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula followed by Graveside Service at Machpelah Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Donald’s memory  to True Word Ministries, P. O. Box 768, Quitman, MS 39355.

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