DeVonna Ponthieu was born in Victoria, Texas and moved to Baton Rouge when she was fourteen years old. She graduated from Istrouma High School in 1977.

In 1987, she married her husband, John Ponthieu, and was married to him until his death in 2011. She began attending Southeastern Louisiana University in 1993 and graduated cum laude in May 1998. She applied and was accepted to the LSU Paul M. Hebert Law School and graduated in 2001. After passing the bar exam, she opened her private office in Denham Springs and has been practicing law there ever since. She has had cases in all of the 21st Judicial District (Livingston, Tangipahoa and St.Helena), East Baton Rouge Parish, Ascension Parish, East Feliciana and other parishes. 

DeVonna is a member in good standing with the Louisiana State Bar Association. She was a past president, vice-president and secretary/treasurer of the 21st Bar Association and is past president, vice-president, treasurer of the Florida Parishes Inns of Court. 

DeVonna was a member of the Kiwanis of Denham Springs and past secretary of the Kiwanis.