Deborah Lucette Carpenter was born on April 11, 1956, in Morganton, NC, to the late Pansy L. Moore Carpenter and Lawrence O. Carpenter. Following a lengthy battle with lung cancer, Deborah entered heavenly rest on December 28, 2023 while in hospice care at the home of her caregiver and sister, Jennifer C. Carpenter, in Durham, NC.  Deborah was educated in the Burke County School System and was a member of the first graduating class of Freedom High School in 1974. She earned a B.A. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Class of 1978, and later completed her M.A. in Education from Gardner-Webb University in 2001.  She committed her life to the Lord as a child at Gaston Chapel AME Church, and later served as a Sunday School Teacher. She remained a member until her passing.

Following in her father's footsteps, Deborah became an educator in the public school system. It was her calling and passion. She began work for the Durham Public School System in 1982 as an elementary school teacher before returning to Morganton in 1992. While working as an English Teacher at Liberty Middle School, she was named Burke County Teacher of the Year in 1997.  As Deborah excelled in the classroom, she found a new calling in working with exceptional children. She was named the Coordinator for Gifted Education in Burke County, the first African American to serve in this role. She loved helping children excel and took great pride in organizing local Science Fairs and following their academic successes in college and beyond. One of her greatest accomplishments was serving as President of the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and Talented from 2002-2004. Another "first" as an African American to serve in this role.  Deborah was a proud graduate of UNC and never missed an opportunity to cheer for the Football and Men's Basketball teams. When she wasn't watching sports, you could find her singing and dancing or spending time with her cats, which she loved dearly. Her energy was infectious and she was fearless in her love of life and exuding a positive spirit even in the face of adversity.

A lung cancer diagnosis in April 2020 couldn't stop her joy and she became a fierce advocate. Forever the teacher and educator, Deborah saw it as her duty to help others diagnosed with this terrible disease. She gave virtual talks about her experience and provided encouraging words to patients battling cancer. Deborah recognized the health disparities around lung cancer and race, the impact of living in a rural community, and the stigma of smoking. She served on numerous boards to address these issues, making an impact even as her health declined.

Deborah is survived by her loving family, brother Gary J. Wright of Morganton, NC; sister and caregiver Jennifer C. Carpenter and husband Eugene A. Eaves, Jr. of Durham, NC; niece Tracy A. Wright; great niece Simone L. Wright; former sister-in-law Barbara A. Wright, and a host of cousins and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday January 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Gaston Chapel A.M.E. Church; the family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service.  Let us continue to keep the Carpenter and connected families in our thoughts and prayers.

In Lieu of Flowers…

Please consider an "In Memoriam" donation to Duke Cancer Institute https://www.gifts.duke.edu/dci or Wake Forest Cancer Center http://tinyurl.com/WakeCancer .

The service will be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A