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Debera Huffman-Harris died Thursday, July 24, 2008 at Hendrick Health System, Abilene, Texas, after a four month long struggle for her life which began in April 2008 at Abilene Regional Hospital. She was a fighter, holding on until the very end. She is now with her father, Ralph Huffman, and her brother, Ronnie Woodrow, all three in heaven.
Debera was born in Washington, D.C. to Ralph and Marie Huffman, who both grew up in Kentucky. Debera’s father Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) Huffman and mother took the family with them as they traveled/worked in Florida, Japan, South Carolina, Utah, Kentucky and Florida again.
Debera graduated with a B.S. in Social Work at Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky. She began helping children and the needy as a Social Worker in Clarkesville, Tennessee where she met her husband who survived her, Andrew Harris of Abilene. Their only child, Jennifer Harris was born in 19811 and lives in Austin, Texas.
To describe Debera would be to say she was one who dedicated her life to helping children and needy families. With the help of local police, she would go in and protect children and women from abuse. She would go into courts and fight for their rights, and family court judges in many vast Texas counties knew her tenacity and toughness all too well. She was relentless at helping those who could not help themselves.
Debera continued her work at Baptist Children’s Home in Round Rock, Texas. After working with the state as a social worker in Brownwood, she eventually moved to Abilene where she continued with the Texas State System as a social worker. Eventually, she opened her own practice of Christian Counseling, with a specialty in child care in the First Financial Bank Building on Buffalo Gap Road.
There have been many needy folks here in Taylor and the surrounding counties that have been touched by her, and Debera was relentless in fighting for their rights and benefits due them. Basically, Debera loved the most, those who were impoverished and disenfranchised, and she loved helping them. Debera did not move in the High Society circles of The Big Country, this was not her. Only some judges, attorneys, doctors, Texas appointed and Texas elected officials (whom she lobbied) would know her. She never had aspirations of moving u0p any political ladder. She had ideas of remedies for social change that were ground-breaking, that would help the destitute.
Pastor Rudy, and the good folks at Ridgemont Baptist Church, where she was member, and Mary Bagley and the fine folks at Capps Baptist Church, and those she so lovingly touched and helped in this community will miss her.
Missing her most, however, will be her surviving mother, Marie Huffman of Abilene; brother, Gary Huffman of Los Angeles; brother, Mark Huffman of Simpsonville, South Carolina; and sister, Helena Harvey of Provo, Utah. Missing her deeply will be the Angel sent to comfort her in the final four months, her sister-in-law Glenda Woodrow of Abilene.
Debera was selfless; she didn’t want recognition or fanfare. She just wanted to go quietly to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
So, goodbye Dr. Pooh Bear; and yes, your Texas Longhorns will rise again, just for you.
Memorial services were held Sunday July 27, 2008 at the Ridgemont Baptist Church, 4857 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene, Texas.
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