Debra "Debbie" Jean Porter

Debra Jean Porter was born on June 16, 1960. From this day forward, her feisty personality never faded. She was the middle child of five siblings: Susie, Carol, Debra “Debbie”, William “Jenks", and Kathy. Although Debbie loved her sister’s and brother, she made certain they knew she wasn’t going to get lost being in the middle. 

Debbie and her siblings fought daily but lord have mercy on the poor soul that decided they were going to be mean or bully one of the Porter Crew. They would come out of the woodworks to defend whichever one of them was in the hot seat.

As Debbie grew older, she became the mother of three girls: Mandy, Brandy, and Candi. Debbie's daughters were her greatest accomplishment and she treasured them as such. Although she loved the names of her girls, she rarely ever called them by the right name. Growing up, they all answered to the other’s names, it was easier that way. 

Later in life, Debbie still had such a special bond with her sister’s and often liked to hit the Casino’s with Carol. The two of them, loved playing the slot machines and even if they’d go to the Casino with someone else, the two of them would text back and forth about which machines to play. Perhaps this was a sign that they went way more often than they should or that they were in fact slot machine professionals. 

The two of them even hit the free buffet once but Carol decided she wasn’t able to eat a bit because of the crab leg shrapnel coming from the opposite side of the table. She confronted Debbie with “I can’t take you anywhere, you’ve got crab legs shells in your hair" and in typical Debbie she responds with “So, I don’t care. It’s good!”

A chicken coup is all Debbie could talk about so Kathy decided she was on her way to have one built. Kathy wrangled up help and arrived in full military mode. She was determined to give Debbie the chicken coup she had been wanting. However, this crew was nothing like the disciplined people she had dealt with before. Directing Debbie and Carol was a much more challenging task. Eventually though, the chicken coup was constructed and impressively it was able to keep chickens contained. 

Chris, who Debbie often referred to as her only son, come along after the construction was complete. The three of them were covered in sweat, so excited and boasted to him about their build. He then replied, “It looks like a bunch of kindergarteners built this.” With that, the three of them made him complete the roof. 

Debbie often missed her mother, Ruth Adams, and her oldest sister, Susie Ferguson, both of whom found their way to Heaven before her. A year after Susie passed, her youngest daughter, Candise Kleinatland, was tragically forced to join them. 

Debbie's grief never subsided and daily she yearned to be with her child. After almost eleven months of living without Candi, Debbie was finally able to join her young angel and rest her shattered heart on April 13, 2021. 

She leaves behind two daughters, Amanda White and Brandy (Chris) Brunson. She was blessed with ten beautiful grandchildren Blaine Brunson, Brenden (Kylie) Welch, Alex Brunson, Alyssa (Colton) Kleinatland, Raeden Welch, Waylen Kleinatland, Tierany White, Wyatt Brantley, Kolton Kleinatland and Kash Kleinatland. One amazing great-granddaughter Statler Welch. Finally, the most spoiled in her treasured family, Pixie her Baby doll Pomeranian. 

A memorial will be held for Debbie at Guy's Chapel in Rabun, Alabama on Monday, April 19, 2021. Family and friends will be welcomed from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with graveside immediately following. 

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