I remember Debbie and what courage it took for her each day to attend classes. She always had a smile when you recognized her and said hello.


I remained friends after high school with Linda Bowman and Debbie Franklin. Debbie, God rest her beautiful soul, passed a few years ago. She lived a difficult life as it was so hard for her to get around, but she had determination to fight until her last breath. For those of you who don't remember her, her dad was the janitor at Riverview and her mom worked in the cafeteria. She walked with a limp due to spina bifida at birth, so she had to leave class early to get to the next one. She went on to work at First National Bank downtown, a block away from me, where we would go to Famous and have lunch. But, the struggle to pull herself up to the bus caused medical problems so she had to go on medical disability. She lived in her own apartment and when her dad passed her mom moved into an apartment close to her so that they could take care of each other. This worked fine for many years until her mom got dementia and had to be put in a home. At that point, Deb made the ultimate sacrifice and moved herself into the home to keep an eye on her mom. Deb's older sister finally got her mom moved to a nursing home in a small town in Missouri where she lived and then moved Deb to her home. I've never heard Deb so happy until she got sick with a kidney infection, was rushed to a hospital in Columbia where she made her transition. God bless you, my dear friend as I know you're free from the physical limitation that bound you on this earth. She touched my heart and soul. And I often think, "if only I would have done more."

Being so young and, well, not mature at all, I just walked by Debbie. I so wish now I could go back at what I have learned in life. I now see folks with limitations and befriend them, wish them well, and enjoy them in my life.