ESSENCE Holiday Celebration Of Joy: DeVon Franklin On His First Holiday Season With Wife Maria Castillo And The Gift Of Hope

By Kiara Byrd ·Updated November 22, 2025 Getting your Trinity Audio player ready… If you have already started setting up your Christmas tree or planning an iconic holiday feast, then you are just as excited as we are to Maria Castillo, and what he is looking forward to in the new year.ESSENCE: What makes you smile the most when it comes to the holiday season?DeVon Franklin: Food! Definitely food and family. I’m getting a chance to spend time with my family that I may not hav