Biography: Deborah Nancy Johnson was born on July 29, 1949, to Paul and Theresa Johnson, in the village of Harlem in the City of New York. Deborah, her mother, father and older sister Cheryl were a happy family. Sadly, Deborah lost her father Paul while a very young girl. Several years later her mother remarried, and Cecil Walcott became a part of Deborah’s family.
Deborah or Debbie, as known to her family and closest friends, attended New York City Schools and graduated from James Monroe High School in the Bronx and attended the City College of New York.
Deborah spent her earliest years in Harlem with her parents and loving grandparents Henry and Viola Turner. When her grandparents moved to the Bronx River Houses, Deborah and her sister Cheryl joined them in the Bronx. Deborah and her sister Cheryl made friends quickly and were popular with their peers. Deborah was the quintessential teenage girl, who broke the hearts of many teenage boys. Deborah was fashionable, fun loving, and knew all the latest dances and songs.
Although popular with her friends and busy with school, teen events at the community center, parties and dances, Deborah still found time for her family. She was devoted and loyal to those she loved. She spent time doting on her little cousin Dawn with treats and outings to the movies and running errands for her grandparents. Deborah was a loving and devoted daughter and was very close to her mother Theresa who was also her best friend. Deborah loved her sister Cheryl and when young girls they seemed to be an inseparable pair with one name “Cheryl-N-Deborah” or “Debbie-N-Cheryl”.
This love of family continued throughout her life. Debbie always found time for family events, whether a birthday, housewarming, graduation celebration or even a toddler dance recital. If you called her, she was there, finding humor in the smallest things, joking around and bringing warmth and laughter. Deborah was kind and had a humble spirit and although she was supportive of others, she never wanted to be a bother to anyone. She was always appreciative and thankful for the little things in life, a phone call, a friendly exchange, a simple meal with a friend or family member.
Deborah found employment at Manpower where she assisted unemployed and underemployed Harlemites find employment. From there Deborah started a career with NYC Human Resources Administration, where for thirty-two (32) years Deborah helped the neediest of New Yorkers secure benefits and assistance.
Although Deborah spent her teen and young adult years in the Bronx, Deborah was a Harlemite to the core. For Deborah, there was no place she would rather live than Harlem.
One day in 1988 Ernest Johnson came into Deborah’s life. In addition to their coincidently having the same last name, they found they were both from Harlem and had lived only blocks from each other while growing up. This meeting changed Deborah’s life. Deborah and Ernest’s acquaintance grew to become a close and committed personal relationship. Deborah and Ernest became life partners and would remain together in Harlem until the Lord called Deborah home on February 26, 2025.
In later years Deborah had serious health issues that she accepted with grace and courage. She loved life and valiantly fought to preserve her life so that she could be with Ernest and her family until at the end of a brisk, sunny, February day, at about 5:00 p.m., God told Deborah, its quitting time. Your work is over. Time to come home.
Deborah was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Theresa, stepfather Cecil and her sister Cheryl. Her spirit and memory will be cherished and left alive by her life partner Ernest Johnson, Uncle William Stout, brother-in-law Mickey Arrington, nephews: Keith Johnson, Michael Arrington, Maurice Arrington, niece: Monee Johnson Arrington, great nieces: Malece, Emmalee and Mikaela, cousins: Dawn Myers, Zora Myers, Renee Stout, Diane Stout and Eric Turner.
Lovingly Submitted by The Family
