Many of our classmates visited Debbie at Christ Hospital during our reunion of 2004 reunion. She so desperately wanted to join us for a few minutes, but her doctors wouldn't permit her leaving the hospital. She was transferred to a rehab center for a few days, then to hospice. She passed a few days later.
Her daughter, Beryle, just graduated from high school in Atlanta.
Debbie and I were friends before we were born. Our mothers were sorority sisters. Debbie was my 1st stage partner. She and I played glow worms in 1st grade. We danced for the school while the remainder of our class sang "Glow Little Glow Worm". Debbie and I were classmates from nursery school through 3rd grade and also during our entire WHHS experience. She was always a warm, fun, and beautiful person.
Debbie always had a smile and a positive attitude. She just seemed so happy. I loved whenever we shared a school activity together. When I learned of her death, I was shaken. How could this positive spirit been taken from us so soon.
Debbie fought a long battle with soft tissue sarcoma. She remained cheerful and optimistic in spite of the odds being stacked against her. Her raison d'être throughout her journey was her daughter, Beryle. Debbie and I were as close as sisters in high school. Somehow we went our separate ways. We always promised to keep in touch after reunions, but somehow that didn't happen.
In 2002, she learned of my husband's passing and reached out to me. We were finally back to being girlfriends again. I hadn't been aware of the extent of her cancer until that time. I joined in with scores of her friends who had been with her throughout her battle to lend any support I could. I took her to several chemo treatments or picked up Beryle for appointments. Toward the end, the cancer affected her spine. But, even though she couldn't walk, she kept the prettiest pair of shoes by her bed.
During the decade that Debbie has been gone, I have truly missed the joy of her spirit.
Ann, many years ago, you sent me a picture of you, Raquel, Debbie, and her daughter. For many years, I had the picture on my desk, but then I transferred the picture to one of the rotating picture frames.
Ann Shepard (Rueve)
Many of our classmates visited Debbie at Christ Hospital during our reunion of 2004 reunion. She so desperately wanted to join us for a few minutes, but her doctors wouldn't permit her leaving the hospital. She was transferred to a rehab center for a few days, then to hospice. She passed a few days later.
Her daughter, Beryle, just graduated from high school in Atlanta.
Ann Shepard (Rueve)
A picture of Debbie's daughter Beryle with her dad, Ed Long, at he high school graduation in Atlanta.
Dexter Roger Dixon
Debbie and I were friends before we were born. Our mothers were sorority sisters. Debbie was my 1st stage partner. She and I played glow worms in 1st grade. We danced for the school while the remainder of our class sang "Glow Little Glow Worm". Debbie and I were classmates from nursery school through 3rd grade and also during our entire WHHS experience. She was always a warm, fun, and beautiful person.
Gail Weintraub (Stern)
Debbie always had a smile and a positive attitude. She just seemed so happy. I loved whenever we shared a school activity together. When I learned of her death, I was shaken. How could this positive spirit been taken from us so soon.
Ann Shepard (Rueve)
Debbie fought a long battle with soft tissue sarcoma. She remained cheerful and optimistic in spite of the odds being stacked against her. Her raison d'être throughout her journey was her daughter, Beryle. Debbie and I were as close as sisters in high school. Somehow we went our separate ways. We always promised to keep in touch after reunions, but somehow that didn't happen.
In 2002, she learned of my husband's passing and reached out to me. We were finally back to being girlfriends again. I hadn't been aware of the extent of her cancer until that time. I joined in with scores of her friends who had been with her throughout her battle to lend any support I could. I took her to several chemo treatments or picked up Beryle for appointments. Toward the end, the cancer affected her spine. But, even though she couldn't walk, she kept the prettiest pair of shoes by her bed.
During the decade that Debbie has been gone, I have truly missed the joy of her spirit.
David R. Schneider
Ann, many years ago, you sent me a picture of you, Raquel, Debbie, and her daughter. For many years, I had the picture on my desk, but then I transferred the picture to one of the rotating picture frames.