She was born in New Orleans, LA to the parents of August and Jeanette Johnson. She was the oldest of eight siblings, second oldest but a brother died before she was born. She grew up in New Orleans where she was surrounded by family and friends.
She attended Lawless Jr. High and McDonald 35 where she was in band and played the flute. She moved to Lynwood, California with her Uncle John and attended Fremont High School. Once she graduated, she moved back to Louisiana where she met her husband Billy Brown. The two married September 24, 1977. Deborah then moved to Washington with Billy and son, Eric to start her family. She started working for the local phone company and then her second child, Ishmael was born. After a few years in Washington, the family moved back to Louisiana where they had their third child, Kendra. After Kendra was born, the family moved to California and that is where she had her fourth child, Billy Jr., and that is where she stayed and raised her children.
She worked for the phone company where she had so many friend who adored her. She met two of her closest friends there Luannu Rideout and Michelle Church. She loved to travel to New Orleans every year for Mardi Gras and to see family and friends.
Deborah was preceded in death by her parents August and Jeanette Johnson, brother, Gregory Johnson, and daughter in law, Erin Johnson. She survived by her husband Billy Paul Brown Sr., and her children, Eric Brown, Ishmael Brown, Kendra Darrough, and Billy Brown Jr. She leaves behind her two beautiful sisters, Sharon Newton Johnson and Donna Lisa Ware, four brothers, August Johnson, Tyrone Johnson, Louis Johnson, and Don Johnson; and beautiful grandchildren, Eric Brown Jr, Dajon Coleman, Shayla Brown, Jamira Brown, Malcolm Carter, Zabrielle Darrough, Ajali and Tyon Brown, Kai Brown, Parker Darrough , and Jayden Brown. She loved all her extended family, beautiful daughter in laws, Danielle Haley, Shondell Knight, Starr Murray and Tiauna Brown, and her aunts and uncles. She loved all of her in-laws, the Laner’s, Hall’s, and Brown’s. Deborah was a beautiful woman who lived her life and she will be truly missed.
A visitation for Deborah will be held Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Moore Funeral Home, 1219 North Davis Drive, Arlington, TX 76012, followed by a funeral service from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.moore-funeralhome.com for the Brown family.