In Loving Memory of Deborah Jackson

It is with a heavy heart that I write this obituary for my beloved sister, Deborah Jackson. I will miss her every hour of every day. For 73 years, we shared not only the bond of sisterhood but also a deep and lasting friendship.

Deborah was born on October 8, 1952, the third of seven children born to our parents, Leroy and Dora Timmons. She grew up in Manhattan and attended P.S. 33 Elementary School on the Lower West Side where her love for music first began. Deborah was a talented cellist in the school orchestra and later took piano lessons at Carnegie Hall for three years until our family moved to Brooklyn.

In Brooklyn, she attended Eiseman Junior High School and later Tilden High School, where she discovered her passion for singing. She joined the school choir as a soprano and often performed lead parts with pride and grace.

It was during these formative years that Deborah met Theodore Jackson. Their friendship blossomed into a love that spanned over 60 years, resulting in four children, 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

In 1968, our family relocated to Long Beach, Long Island. There, Deborah entered a new chapter in her life. While finishing high school, she also enrolled in BOCES, a technical training school, and earned her Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification—an early sign of her enduring drive and compassion.

Deborah married Theodore in 1970, and together they traveled across the United States, England, and Germany before settling in Lompoc in 1987. Along the way, she continued to grow and evolve, earning credentials as a hairdresser, a trained chef, and a devoted caregiver.

Later in life, after her divorce, Deborah met Gary Wright. They shared a loving companionship and got to room together at the Lompoc Skilled Nursing Facility.

Deborah was well known for her culinary and baking talents, her unshakable spirit, and her determination. Nothing could keep her from achieving what she set her mind to.

She is survived by her children—Tonya Ramirezcong, Hidie Cowell, Geronimo Jackson, and Ashunta McMillan, their families and all six of her siblings. Deborah was deeply loved and will be missed by many more than can be named. She was a loving Sister, Mother, Aunt and Friend.

I will miss you, my sister, my friend. I will carry you in my heart forever.

Rest peacefully, Deborah. Till we meet again. - By Laura Wynkoop