GROOM NAME
Patrick Donnell Pope
NAME OF HBCU FOR GROOM ?
Saint Augustine’s University
GROOM PROFESSION?
Certified Internal Auditor and Retired Professional FIBA Basketball Player
BRIDE NAME
Dr. Tabia Pope
NAME OF HBCU FOR BRIDE?
Howard University
BRIDE PROFESSION
President & CEO of Head to Speech, Incorporated, Owner of BIA Communications, Clinical Professor of Speech-Language Pathology.
SO, EXACTLY HOW DID YOU MEET?
Both of us are from the DMV area. We met in Maryland through Donnell’s friend who decided to play matchmaker! There was an instant connection between us. After a few dates and meeting each other’s families we have literally been together ever since!
HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE PERSON THAT YOU WOULD MARRY?
We dated as Tabia was applying for graduate school and Donnell was waiting to hear from his agent to return overseas to play basketball overseas. He finally got the call to play in Spain. We lived together for several months and fell in love. We endured a long distance relationship with frequent traveling between us both and videoconferencing. After she finished graduate school, we decided he was going to retire after 9 years of playing professionally and it was time to make the transition together in Maryland.
DESCRIBE THE PROPOSAL?
The restaurant where we had our first date had shut down and reopened as another restaurant. Donnell took Tabia to check it out. He began to explain the significance of the location to our relationship and got on one knee and proposed. We celebrated with an engagement party!
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH HOMECOMING YOU ATTEND EACH YEAR?
You’re more than likely to find us attending Howard University’s Homecoming because we live in the area! We frequently go on couple and family trips with Tabia’s graduate school friends, their husbands, and families. We had a good time celebrating Tabia’s 10 year master’s degree reunion together with our framily!
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?
Together 14 years, Married 10 years! Happy 10 Year Anniversary!
