Debra Stewart Johnson

LIFESTORY:

Debra Johnson was a beautiful woman. Not only did she have the grace and loveliness of a Hollywood starlet, she also had a beautiful way of looking at the world. A loving wife and mother and friend to many, Debra had the type of personality that everyone loved to be around. She filled a room with her presence and left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Debra was a person you could never forget, and her charm stayed with you long after she had gone.

The end of World War II brought thousands of young servicemen back to America to pick up their lives and start new families in new homes with new jobs. With an energy never before experienced, American industry expanded to meet peacetime needs. Neighborhoods and schools were bursting at the seams with children as the result of the post war baby boom. Jesse and Joyce (McCalpin) Newton of Detroit, Michigan, were among the many baby booming couples and on July 28, 1953, they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Debra Jean, at the Herman Kiefer Hospital.

As the oldest of six children, Debra's placement in the sibling lineup meant she carried a heavy load of responsibilities. After her parents divorced, Debra became a vital help to her mother, caring for her siblings, Stephanie, Alfred, Robert, Edward and Dorothy, as well as cooking and doing laundry. Her strong motherly instincts were honed at an early age and prepared her for her own family. Debra's mother eventually remarried and her stepfather, Edward Stewart, adopted Debra, Stephanie, and Alfred. They grew up in Detroit, and undoubtedly filled the home with their share of laughter, spats and memories. Stephanie remembers idolizing her big sister and hung on her every word. She followed Debra around everywhere that was until she got fed up with her being a little tag along.

The Stewarts were actively involved in the People Baptist Church and Warrendale Community Church, regularly attending Sunday services and other church activities during the week. As a young girl, Debra attended Sunday school, sang in the choir and was involved with the Coral Ridge Group and its related activities. Debra was a very bright young lady and excelled in the most challenging classes in high school. Because of her hard work, Debra graduated as Valedictorian of her class and received the National Merit Scholarship as well as several other academic scholarships, which paid for her college education at Western Michigan University. This is how Debra came to the Kalamazoo area.

While in college, Debra worked as a waitress at Michael's Cloud in downtown Kalamazoo. It was here that she met the love of her life, Jerry Johnson, and they quickly became friends. Jerry was truly intrigued by Debra, especially when she confided in him that she was going to be a lineman, a job that was typically for men due to the danger and physical aspects. Not many women aspired for such a job, which made Debra one of a kind. Jerry offered Debra a ride home from work one night and they soon discovered they lived in close proximity of each other. Over the next six years of dating, their friendship grew ever closer and romance blossomed. They were happily married on July 12, 1983, and Jerry was especially tickled because now at least Debra's mother was nice to him.

Together, Jerry and Debra built many of the great things in their life, starting with their relationship to careers, family and eventually their own home. As a couple, their personalities balanced each other nicely and they liked spending quiet evenings together, simply listening to music or hanging out. After marrying, Debra began working at Brown Derby, waitressing and bartending. One evening she came home from work every excited for written on a napkins was some information about a job in sheet metal, something she truly wanted to do. Jerry wasn't real optimistic and said, "Debra, you are not going to get a job from a bar napkin." Resolute, Debra set out to attain her goal and was in fact, the first female sheet metal journeyman in the State of Michigan. However, Debra was in for another surprise when she found out, she was pregnant, and after 3 1/2 years as a sheet metal journeyman, Debra consequently quit her job. On February 24, 1984, Jerry and Debra delighted in welcoming the birth of their son, Joe Miles, in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Debra stayed home when Joe was born, wanting to dedicate her time to raising her son well. She taught him to have self-esteem and never treated him like a child, rather as an equal. And even when he was at his most willful, she remained loving and open-minded to his plight. What touched Joe the most, though, was when he caught his mother fondly looking at him, reassuring him of her unconditional love. When Joe was 4, Debra decided to go back to work and took a job at MIOSHA as an inspector. She worked her way up to the position of Consultant, which she absolutely loved. Debra used her ingenuity to not only write training programs for MIOSHA, but also taught her material to groups of individuals.

Debra had a creative streak and was artistically talented. When she and Jerry built their own home in 1985, Debra installed the kitchen cabinets, laid the ceramic tiles and anything else she set her mind to - Jerry learned to just stay out of her way. Debra loved plants and flowers and enjoyed landscaping their new home. As an artist, she drew and painted many great masterpieces and even crocheted and sewed her own clothes in her younger years. As the family organizer, Debra planned their family gatherings, usually at their home. She was an excellent cook and there was always enough food to feed an army. Debra was one of those people who didn't function well in the morning with her coffee and it was best that she be left alone until then. A typical morning for Joe included seeing his mother in her red robe and coffee in hand, slowly moving around the house. In her quiet moments, Debra enjoyed curling up with a good book from a writer's series she had come across. An avid reader, it was her goal to read every book in the series. She happily passed this trait on to her son Joe. When not reading, Debra liked watching a little television, particularly A&E, BBC and educational channels. Debra remained connected to her faith throughout her life, she even attended St. Mary's Church while her son Joe attended school there.

Debra truly knew how to enjoy, cherish and celebrate every moment life had to offer. She had a generous spirit and loved to give of her time and talents. Throughout her life, Debra always had a smile on her face and laughter in her heart. It is the way her family will always remember her.

Debra Jean Stewart Johnson, age 52 of Mattawan, MI, died on Sunday, September 25, 2005, at her home. Debra was preceded in death by her parents Joyce Stewart and Jesse Newton. She is survived by her husband, Jerry Johnson of Mattawan; a son, Joe Johnson of Kalamazoo; her adoptive father, Edward (Maxine) Stewart of Frankfort, KY; two sisters: Stephanie and Dorothy Stewart of Detroit; three brothers: Alfred Stewart of Detroit, Robert (Etta) Stewart of Grand Rapids, and Edward (Alberta) Stewart of Columbia, SC; and several nieces and nephews.

Learn more about Debra, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends on Thursday, September 29, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Betzler & Thompson Life Story Funeral Homes, M-40 South of I-94, Paw Paw, 657-3870, where a Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, September 30, at 11:00 a.m. Interment Oak Grove Cemetery. Please visit Debra's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may archive a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to the United Negro College Fund.