Deborah Hadaway Hoffman passed away after a battle with cancer on Sunday December 11, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 10, 1956 in Salisbury, Maryland to the late James Joel Hadaway and Mary Ellen Larrimore Hadaway. She grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and moved to Georgia in 1970, where she graduated as Valedictorian from the Southwood School in 1974. She then attended Rollins College, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1978. She spent several years working as a high school and junior high teacher and as a reference librarian at the University of Houston before leaving her career to raise her three sons. In more recent years, Debbie returned to work, doing a job she loved as a librarian in the St. Augustine public library.
Debbie was a long-time member of Asbury United Methodist Church in Orange Park and later First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine. She loved to travel and had been to 48 of the 50 states, as well as Europe, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. She will be remembered as a loving grandmother, supportive mother, tireless volunteer, kind friend, exceptional baker, and a warm soul by all who knew her. Her happiest times were spent reading; enjoying time with her children, grandchildren, and friends; traveling with family; taking daily walks on the beach with her dog; and cooking for others—especially the tradition of making Christmas candy with her children and later grandchildren. She will be missed dearly.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, James J. Hadaway, III.
Debbie is survived by her three sons, John Hoffman of Jacksonville, FL (wife Cristina, daughter Coraline, and son Lucas), Robert Hoffman of Philadelphia, PA (wife Heather), and Michael Hoffman of Northampton, MA (wife Tara); her brother Tim Hadaway of Reserve, NM; and many other loving family members and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at 10:30 AM at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home in Orange Park, FL. The family will be receiving friends beginning at 10:00am at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, money can be donated to the St. Johns County library system, where many of Debbie’s happiest times were spent over the last ten years. Please send memorial donations to: Friends of the Main Library, 1969 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32084.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com for the Hoffman family.
