Debra Garrett Heckler

Debbie was born July 28, 1952, in Decatur, Alabama to Robert “Hal” Garrett and Annie Cain Garrett. She is preceded in death by her sister Dorothy “Dot” Garrett, her brother Robert Dalton Garrett, her nephew Robert Ray Garrett and her two sons, Jonathan Evan Humerick and Owen Neal Humerick. Her beloved soulmate and husband, Wayne Grant Heckler passed away in February of 2022.

She is survived by her step daughter Chris and husband J.D. Frey, and their daughter Maggie of Huntsville, AL, step son Steven and wife Laura Heckler, and their daughter Grace of Watford, England, sister in Law, Ethel Garrett of Baytown, TX, nephew Ken Garrett and wife Vicki of Decatur, AL, niece, Ann Garrett Fehring and husband Bob of Baytown, TX, nephew, David Garrett and wife Roshaun of Point Aux Chenne, LA, nephew Ron Garrett and wife Angie of Missouri City, TX, step son, Paul Robert Humerick and wife Teresa of Priceville, AL. She is also survived by numerous great nieces and nephews and was especially close to her great nephew TK Garrett, son of her deceased nephew, Ray.

Debbie graduated in 1970 from Austin High School, Decatur, AL, where she was a majorette. She then attended the University of Alabama. She had a 40-year career with the State of Alabama Unemployment Compensation Agency as a Call Center Manager, Adjudication Manager, and Training Writer. She was on past boards for the Board of Directors for the ARC of Morgan County and the Epilepsy Foundation of America.

Debbie and Wayne had a beautiful storybook love story and treasured each other so, even through their Alabama and Auburn rivalry. Debbie was a most faithful servant to her Lord and walked a life of compassion and kindness. Her spirit was like her love of beautiful hymns and piano playing, uplifting and inspiring. She shared her talents in music with her church, Saint Matthews Episcopal Church by playing the organ and bells during services. She instilled confidence, built up self esteem and ministered to the broken-hearted throughout her entire life and within her church group, Stephen Ministry. She prayed selflessly and consistently along with her fellow sisters in the Daughters of the King and helped couples and individuals develop or strengthen their relationships with God through her involvement in Cursillo.

Her favorite quote was, “…And if, when it is all over and I am asked what I did with my life… I want to be able to say, I offered love.” She most certainly did as proven by her lifelong friends and cherished family with no discord and always with kindness.

Debbie was the embodiment of love.