Joseph Allen Birdsong February 27, 1935 - March 6, 2023

North Miami, Florida Birdsong, Joseph Allen, 88, of Miami passed away Monday, March 6th, 2023. Joseph was born in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana to Edna Johnson Birdsong and Charles Henry Birdsong on February 27, 1935. After finishing high school, he joined the United States Navy where he was an electrician and was stationed on an aircraft carrier. He then worked for the electric company in New Orleans, Louisiana to save money to attend college.

He graduated from Louisiana Tech University and was named to the Who’s Who of Colleges and Universities. After a few years of working for the General Accounting Office for the United States Government, Joseph decided he was tired of the cold and wanted to live somewhere warmer. He moved to South Florida and worked for Blue Cross Blue Shields where he was a hospital auditor. He then met his wife, Moira, after both their cars were broken into and had their spare tires stolen. He came over to “inquire” why Moira had not filed a police report. They were married shortly after.

It was during this time that he was invited to join Health and Human Services. Later, he was recruited as a Special Agent for the Office of Investigation of Health and Human Services. He recovered millions of dollars for the Medicare program. He was awarded Special Agent of the Year multiple times with the last time just before his retirement in 2004 for his case against Tenet Healthcare.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 45 years Moira Birdsong, his daughter Denise Birdsong Fernandez (Julian), and his granddaughters Claire and Elizabeth.

Joseph never saw anyone who needed help that he did not offer his hand.

At his request, there will be no service. Just have a beer in his honor.

Gregg L Mason Funeral Home, 305-757-9000

- Demetrio Perez, Jr., a lifelong educator, public servant and journalist who founded Lincoln-Marti schools and served as a Miami city commissioner and Miami-Dade School Board member, passed away March 10, 2023. He was 77.

Demetrio was born in Matanzas, Cuba, and at age 16 migrated alone to Miami as part of Operation Pedro Pan, which transported thousands of Cuban children to the United States after Fidel Castro’s takeover. He was reunited with his parents two years later.

He earned a bachelor’s degree. in education and a master’s degree in human resources with a specialization in exceptional children, and in 1968 established the first Lincoln-Marti school in Miami. Today, Lincoln-Marti operates 46 schools and childcare centers, employs more than 500 people, and serves 6,500 students with not just a strong education but meals, transportation and schedules that are designed for working parents.

Demetrio spent his life in service to our community, serving as a Miami city commissioner and as a Miami-Dade County School Board member. In his time on the school board, he successfully pursued an ambitious agenda including mandatory