The one thing Debra M. Slaughter has learned in her walk of life is to always be kind. “Even when people are mean or ornery, I try to be kind. I try to never let someone take me outside of who I am.” Debra explained she learned that from her grandfather, “He was just a very humble man, not a boisterous man, but he was just a good guy.”
Her grandmother and grandfather both had an immense influence on her and her younger siblings’ lives. Debra was born and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania but moved to Fayetteville when she was 12. Debra’s grandmother was originally from Cedar Creek and when thinking of a better environment for their grandchildren, they all moved to Fayetteville. “I’ve called Fayetteville home ever since. It’s a very diverse area and a place where everybody felt like family and the first time we were able to go outside and play.”
Debra attended E.E. Smith high school and Terry Sanford high school but ended up graduating high school in Chester, Pennsylvania. From there, her adventures included getting married at 19 to a military man, moving to Germany, and having three kids. Debra lived in Germany for three years and then moved back to the United States.
Other adventures include: living in Panama, Berlin, and 28 out of the 50 states here, in the U.S.; and now has seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She also has accomplished a diverse workload. Debra has worked in Washington D.C. as the Department of Defense Secretary for the Army, Travel Clerk for Defense Finance & Accounting Service (for all branches of the military), an Assistant Postal Officer on Fort Bragg, and worked with special needs teenagers (11th-12th grade) in Harnett County.
When Debra was just in her 50s, her oldest granddaughter, Jassmin, challenged her to go back to school. In 2015, Jassmin, Debra’s grandson, and Debra, at 55, all graduated.
Debra joined our Inasmuch team this past February and loves her role as our Office Administrator.
“My favorite part is greeting the family members in the morning. And I’m a morning person, any day I wake up is a blessing. It gives me the opportunity to get right what I didn’t before.”
Debra first knew about Inasmuch years ago during one of our Blitz Days. “My cousin, Claze Washington, Debra recalled,” called me to help bag lunches. These were for the individuals working on the projects. You saw people of every denomination working as one, if we operated in the world like we treat people here [Operation Inasmuch], the world would be a better place. You have to love people and respect people to work in this environment. That’s what I love about Inasmuch.”
Debra’s faith and family impact are a true testimony and we’re honored she now shares it with us! Debra said, “I told my grandfather, ‘I want to be just like you’ and he told me ‘Well, you got a long way to go, sister.’ And I guess, I’ve been trying to live up to that ever since.”
If you have any questions or would like to contact Debra, feel free to email her at officeadmin@faoiam.org.
