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CHARLOTTE, NC – Debra (“Deb”) LaVerne Williamson Slade, a legendary educator, amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and sister, was born on February 3, 1952 in Burlington, North Carolina. Debra was the daughter of the late Robert E. Lee “Twinkle” and Mary “Florine” Williamson. Her maternal grandparents were Robert E. Lee Williamson and Gilmer Lee Williamson.

Debra was raised in the Morgantown community in Burlington, NC and educated at Alamance Burlington City Schools. She attended JF Gunn Elementary School and graduated from Jordan Sellers High School in 1970. She was inducted into the Alpha Mu Honor Society and graduated in three and half years. In 1971, Debra pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA) in Delta Theta Chapter. Once moving to Bertie County she was one of the AKA Charter members in Xi Rho Omega Chapter.

On March 13, 1976, Debra married the love of her life, Jesse Thornton “Champ/JT” Slade and to this union were born two children, L’Tryce “Trycee” Moni Slade and Queena DeVoya Slade Goings. She has a bonus daughter, Wanda Ashe Tyler. Together, they enjoyed 44 years of marriage traveling across the United States. They were truly soul mates.

For over 20 years, Debra served the students of Bertie County School System as an educator. She started in February 1974. She was selected as Teacher of the Year. She taught 3rd grade for over 20 years. She later moved to Charlotte, NC where she served as a substitute teacher for over 20 years. She was more than an educator, her students loved her and she loved them right back. Her motto was “Every child has a dream that education can fulfill.”

Her siblings are Robin “Cookie” Williamson Flintall (Lacy), Cathy “Paulette” Williamson Clapp (Michael), Robert E. Lee Williamson (Storm), Lorene “Linky” Williamson (DeWitt), and Billy “John” Williamson.

On October 13, 2020, Debra LaVerne Williamson Slade joined the other “Precious Pearls” and became an “Ivy Beyond the Wall”.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Robert and Florine Williamson; and sister, Paulette Clapp.

Debra’s indelible legacy will live on through the treasured memories by husband, JT Slade; daughters, L’Tryce Slade (Birmingham, AL), Queena Slade Goings (De’Jon Goings) (Charlotte, NC), and Wanda Ashe Tyler (Charles Tyler) (Ahoskie, NC); grandchildren, Mychal Dante’ Moore, Parris O’Brien Moore, Genesis R’Chelle James (Noah Norville), Zion Hadari Goings, and Persia Talia Goings; and great grandchildren, Shakur Samsun-Asahd Norville, Mychal Moore Jr., Marques Moore, Jeremiah Clegg, and Myles Moore.