Debra Ann Smith

Debra Ann Smith was born on August 28, 1960, at Palo Verde Hospital in Blythe, California, to Annie Jean Ford and Ernest Eugene Mack. She had two sisters and one brother, Brenda, Wendy, and Darrell Mack, who were born in Annie Jean and Ernest Eugene’s union.

Debra was united in holy matrimony to Mr. Charles David Smith in 1984 in San Diego, California. They welcomed into the world two sons, Charles David Smith, Jr. in 1985 and Christopher Patrick Smith in 1989.

Debra’s immediate family increased when her son Charles Smith, Jr. married her beloved daughter-in-law Melissa Smith in 2016. In 2017, Charles and Melissa blessed Debra with her first grandchild, Malaya. Malaya was the love of Debra’s life. Debra stated several times that she felt God created her to love Malaya.

Debra’s adult life revolved around three major areas: her love for God, her love and commitment to her immediate and extended family, and service to her co-workers and the patients she served in the Kaiser Permanente Health Care Organization.

Debra was adamant and committed to spending her first waking hour in the study of bible readings and quiet time, where she focused on thanking God for her blessed life and family.

Debra and Charles found their final spiritual home at the Rock Church and have been members since 2007. At the Rock, Debra served on the Medical Ministry, volunteering her time at health and fitness events. Debra also served on The Women’s Cancer Ministry and the annual Toys for Joy Christmas event. Debra’s kindness, compassion and unwavering faith and commitment to God led countless people to our Lord.

Debra loved her sons Charles and Christopher!!!! The pride and honor she felt to be their mother was beyond what anyone could imagine, except for another mother. Her life revolved around her boys’ current and future families. It was her priority in life to help her sons and their families flourish spiritually, mentally, and physically.

Debra felt that the care and nurturing of the family unit was the primary reason she was on this earth and that it was her mission and purpose to not only preserve hers, but to enhance it to its highest level. She was excited about working less and enjoying life more by spending time with her husband, sons, sisters, brothers, and extended family.

Debra spent over 42 years in the medical field and almost 40 of those years at Kaiser Permanente working in numerous occupations and finally as a Registered Nurse. Outside of God and her family, Debra was committed to her profession and helping people. The number of individuals Debra helped heal physically and mentally over the years cannot be quantified; it is easily in the tens of thousands, if not more. The amount of staff, peers, supervisors, administrators, and doctors she has positively influenced with her knowledge, wisdom, and maturity will forever be unmatched.

Finally, Debra was passionate about her fitness and worked hard to stay healthy. She set the example for so many women who watched her and admired how she strived to take care of the only vessel God gave her.

It is with this thought we, the family, take comfort in knowing that God had a plan for Debra Smith. He allowed us to have Debra for 59 years. He allowed us to experience her UNWAVERING LOVE, GENEROSITY, FORGIVENESS, PATIENCE, and SACRIFICE.

Obviously, we do not understand God’s plan BUT we accept it! We accept that he called Debra home because her earthly job was complete, and her heavenly job awaited her.

From Debra’s Husband Charles D. Smith Sr.

While Debra had numerous family, friends, and people in her life that helped her become the woman she was, I would like to acknowledge a group of individuals who I have or had the honor of knowing, trusting, and loving.

Debra’s mother Annie Jean Ford, father Ernest Mack, aunt Barbara Lavender-Smith and family, sisters Brenda Perkins and family, Wendy Wells and family, brother Darrell Mack and family, step-mother Wanda Mack, step-brothers, Ernie and Aaron Mack and families, the extended and very special Mack family in Blythe, California, Cousin Elaine Overstreet Richardson and family, Wanda Foster and family, and Cynthia Jones and family. And finally, Debra’s second and very special extended family at Kaiser Permanent and numerous devoted friends.