Deborah Jean Persell

Deborah (Debbie) Jean Persell, 71, of Milton, Florida, passed away peacefully at home on April 17th after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Born August 12, 1953, in Kankakee, Illinois, to Carl and Alberta Selfridge, Debbie dedicated her life to nursing education.
A graduate of Ironton (MO) High School, she earned her BSN from the University of Kansas and her MSN as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). Debbie served with the US Public Health Department, establishing well-baby clinics in underserved areas of Arkansas and Mississippi. She then played a crucial role in the development of the nursing program at Mid-America Nazarene University, contributing to their national accreditation.
Married to Dave Persell, their ministry took them to Bel Air, Maryland, where Debbie taught at Harford County Community College and Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. Moving to Des Moines, Iowa (1992), she instructed at Methodist College, followed by positions at Tennessee State University and the University of Michigan. From 2001-2024, she was a dedicated nursing instructor at Arkansas State University.
Inspired by 9/11, Debbie focused on emergency and disaster management, earning a PhD in homeland security nursing from the University of Tennessee (2008), a national first. At ASU, she developed and led its homeland security degree programs until her 2018 retirement, continuing as an adjunct professor. A recognized expert in her field, Debbie traveled internationally, sharing her knowledge at conferences with leaders worldwide.
Debbie is preceded in death by her parents, and brother, Steve Selfridge.
Debbie is survived by her husband, Dave; daughter, Micah (Cameron) Council; son, Nathan (Hannah) Persell; and grandchildren, Riley, Phoenix, Jace, and Atticus.
A family directed Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday May 10, 2025, at First Baptist Church Milton, 6797 Caroline Street Milton, FL 32570, with visitation from 10:00-11:00am and service at 11:00am.
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