Debbie was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL, spending her childhood in Mandarin and its surrounding neighborhoods. She graduated from Wolfson High School in 1972 and went on to be an Auburn Tiger where she majored in beer and football players. She could be heard yelling “War Damn Eagle!” throughout her life, it wasn’t only reserved for football season.
After a leg injury took her out of the police academy in the mid-1970s, she spent time working in corrections for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, where many officers first “met Debbie while she was in jail” before she made her way across the ditch to join the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. A move to central Florida and a few years with the Tavares Police Department were thwarted when her daughter was born with a congenital heart defect that required regular trips back to Jacksonville for care and she ultimately moved back to Jax prior to her daughter’s heart surgery and returned to the JBPD as a dispatcher in 1986, and then communications supervisor from 1989 until her retirement in 2003.
Debbie was an immensely gifted artist, a talent she passed down to her daughter and granddaughter, and not only made personalized caricature pieces that decades later are still commented about from family and friends, but she also was the go to for banners and signs. Whether it was a Pop Warner football game, banners to trash talk the refs at a Lizard King game, or signs to welcome people home she would tackle the task with joy and precision. She spearheaded community and fundraising efforts not just for her job but on her own, and even when she couldn’t give her time or money she would give her sarcasm and quick wit to help promote it and guilt others into supporting it too.
Deborah, as her daughter liked to call her to irritate her into responding, was a fiercely loyal supporter of law enforcement and first responders across all fields. She routinely gave her time and talent throughout her life, but especially during her years on disability. There wasn’t a cause too small, particularly if it involved her family, friends, ANY animal (even stinking Gators), or if it supported the needs of a fallen or injured officer or their family.
A comment echoed repeatedly in her life and death is that she never had much but she gave all that she did have. It’s the shortest and most eloquent way to describe a woman that touched the lives of thousands in her lifetime.
Debbie is preceded in death by her parents Manget “Bill” and Johnnie Tanner, her brother Larry, sister Donna, and countless animals currently wagging their tails on the other side of the rainbow bridge. She is survived by her daughter Ashley Mason (Jeremy), granddaughter Bailey, bonus granddaughter Izzy, and her cats: Lexie, Mouse, Pookie, Salem, and Scooter.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December, 5, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville FL, 32223 the service will also be available via livestream at https://youtu.be/oJSdMpzE1sY or https://youtu.be/ogZlb6S5kSw
. A celebration gathering to cheer on the Auburn Tigers in Debbie’s honor will follow immediately after at Sneakers Sports Grille, 111 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.
As an avid supporter of all things American Heart Association and regular Heart Walk attendee the family asks in lieu of flowers you make a donation to the American Heart Association. An organization that leads the way in research and advocacy for heart patients like Debbie and Ashley.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME OF MANDARIN, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223. www.hgmandarin.com (904) 288-0025.
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