Dantavius Washington fell in love with Joan Barnes when he was 18. He met her at a church dance. She was also 18 and had just moved to Tampa with her mother. They worked at a pharmacy on Fowler-her mother as a pharmacist’s assistant; Joan as a certified cosmetologist. Mother and daughter shared an apartment and a small car. Dantavius’ parents were together and both worked for the City Water Department. When he turned 18, his father managed to get him a job as a mailman which allowed him to make more than twice what he would have earned in the private sector. He took courses at a junior college –HCC- and hoped to move one day into management at the Post Office. Dantavius and Joan were attractive young adults, full of hope and promise; they met, fell in love and were married six months later in a church wedding with the whole congregation in attendance. Everyone danced with the bride at the reception and commented on her beauty and freshness. She was fresh and virginal. She had insisted that her eager husband wait until their marriage was sanctified by a church wedding.
