Deborah Parker

She graduated from Kecoughtan High School in 1968. She retired from the Federal Government after 31 years of service. After retiring, Debbie worked as a consultant to the Army until her death and had nearly 50 years of dedicated service.

Debbie enjoyed visiting many casinos, racing events, and relaxing on a beach. However, most of all, she loved hosting family gatherings no matter where she was. She always topped off the evening with a glass of wine to celebrate the joy of being with family and friends.

She had a particular quality to be a mother to all of her kids, both young and old. Debbie was friendly, the life of the party, or a person to come to for advice. She had adopted kids of all ages and backgrounds. Some were soldiers, some were firefighters, some were police officers, some were watermen, some were race car drivers, and a couple…..were her hero’s. She sooooo loved one hero in her heart, Robin Buckner, who she also inspired to dream big and go for the winner’s flag!!!

Debbie loved to feed people and make them smile and be happy…it might have been the decades of feeding people at festivals with her friends and fellow vendors, or at the race track after listening to outlandish tales of amazing passes on track and many hand gestures describing the perfect lap, or inviting young service members over at holiday gatherings to be a home away from home for them. She invited many into her home no matter where it was and left an everlasting impression on each of them through the years.

Debbie had a particular love for the working watermen and water women of Virginia. She dedicated much of her life to help preserve the heritage and lifestyle of everyone that worked the water. She fought alongside many watermen and women of the water to help preserve the heritage, lifestyle and places to dock their boats to this day.

That is why she was “Mama Debbie” by everyone that knew her.

In 2018 she married her friend of 42 years and her love, Rick Parker.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents; step father, Vance Scoggin; and brother, Donnie Sutton.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Rick Parker; son, Robbie Roderick; daughter, Tori McFadden; sister, Jeannie Clark; nieces, Sabrina Sutton and Meagan Hilss (Michael); and great niece, Kara Hooker (Kyle). She also adopted hundreds of kids from the armed services, first responders, race weekends and boat slips all over Hampton Roads.

A visitation for Deborah will be held Thursday, November 10, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Parklawn Wood Funeral Home, 2551 N. Armistead Ave, Hampton, VA 23666. A celebration of life service will occur Friday, November 11, 2022 at 2:00 PM. An interment to follow the service will occur at Peninsula Memorial Park, 12750 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23606.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer.