Deborah (Debbie) Lynn Chapman Ward

Glover Funeral Home Dothan

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Posted by: Glover Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-699-3888
Date: Jan 07 2023 9:26 AM

Deborah (Debbie) Lynn Chapman Ward was lost to cancer on January 4, 2023. She was 71 years old. Debbie was the only child of Robert Owen Chapman and Mildred Grace Chapman née Mickler.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Michael (Mike) Ward, and two sisters-in-law, Dawn Dupree and Diane Ward of Fort Myers, Florida. She also has various cousins around the country, including Nancy Goodson and Lake Eustice (Buddy) Mickler, Jr. and his wife Brenda, all of Opelika, Alabama.

Debbie was born August 12, 1951 in Montgomery, Alabama. Her family moved to Dothan about 1958 and lived here during most of her formative years, then moving on briefly to Lumberton, NC and Miami FL - where she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on December 3, 1966 - before finally settling in Fort Myers, FL. She was in her mid-teens at the time and made many lifelong friends while there.

Debbie met her future husband Mike in Fort Myers. For him it was love at first sight, and winning her over took a bit of wooing time, as they were both still in high school. He never lost sight of the goal to win her heart, and on May 6, 1972 they were married in the local Kingdom Hall.

In 1984 they moved to Rochester, NY to escape the Florida heat. They lived there for 36 years.  

She was a serious student of the Bible, which was obvious to anyone who heard her talk about it. She was highly regarded for her comments during the meetings but many did not realize that she spent hours preparing them so that the time that people listened to her speak would be worth their attention.

They moved to Dothan in September of 2020 and joined the West Dothan congregation, where they quickly grew to love the local friends. In September of 2021 they both started serving again as Regular Pioneers and had the privilege of attending Pioneer Service School together in the summer of 2022. Debbie was a lifelong faithful sister who always had excellent comments prepared for the meetings.

A brief story of something she said to Mike over the weekend before her death:

"I’m going to miss some things, like going to Cracker Barrel on Sunday afternoons or going to Sam’s Club for a hot dog. I guess I won’t know I’m missing them though. I’ll just have to wait for paradise to eat a hot dog again."

"But Debbie, there may not be hot dogs in paradise."

"There better be! I want to eat a hot dog with Nina."

Classic Debbie.

Nina was an older sister in the congregation whom Debbie loved and respected, and who passed away not long ago.

Debbie will be sorely missed by many people.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 866 N. Brannon Stand Rd., Midland City, AL  with Tom Littleton officiating.

Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com

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