Deborah Joyce Teague "Debbie" Midgett

Deborah Teague Midgett WASHINGTON, N.C. - Mrs. Deborah Joyce "Debbie" Teague Midgett, 59, a resident of Washington, NC, passed away February 26, 2014, after a 12-year battle with cancer. Debbie, known as "D.J." to many of her friends, was born in Columbia, SCto Neville Eugene Teague and Peggy Joyce Kelley Teague on September 10, 1954. She was a 1972 graduate of Lower Richland High School and in 1976, Debbie graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of South Carolina as a proud Gamecock with a B.A. in Elementary Education. In addition, she was a 1985 graduate of Appalachian State University with a Master of Arts in Education and obtained her Certification in Supervision/Administration from Winthrop University in 1990. Following graduation from USC, Debbie pursued a lifelong career as an educator. She served as elementary teacher in several school systems in both South Carolina and in North Carolina, as both teacher and library/media specialist. In school administration in Gaston County Schools, she served as director of the Teacher Resource Center and Instructional Technology Specialist. Other administrative position in North Carolina included Director of Instructional Technology, Rowan-Salisbury Schools; Professional Development Specialist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; and Curriculum Director & Developer for ExplorNet ENTech, as Educator on Loan. Wanting to finish her career doing what she loved, teaching children, Debbie returned to the classroom and served as media coordinator at Hornet's Elementary and finished her career in the media center at Washington High School. In addition, Debbie served as a consultant for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, IBM, Hart, Inc., and taught as an Adjunct Professor at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. During her long teaching career, Debbie received many honors. She was twice selected Teacher of the Year, received the statewide N.C. Technology Educator of the Year Leadership Award as well as the Gertrude Coward Award of Excellence in Media for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Debbie was a past member of the N.C. Association of Educational Communications & Technology (now NCTIES) where she served as board member, and state pre-conference chair, and state conference co-chair. Debbie loved her church and was a devoted Christian. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and active in her circle making journals and hats for cancer patients. Debbie loved sharing her historic home with others and had a unique talent for making people feel warm and welcome. She had a passion for family and history, and enjoyed beach combing on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Her hobbies included scrapbooking, decorating her home, and planning her annual weeklong "Camp Midgett" for her granddaughter Carly. Debbie is survived by her husband, Ray of the home; son, William Buckley "Buck" Brice of Charlotte, NC; parents, Neville Eugene Teague and Peggy Joyce Kelley Teague, sister, Rebecca Kaye Teague Madden and husband, Allen, brother, Neville Eugene Teague Jr., niece, Kelley Vaughan Madden, and nephew, Arthur Allen Madden III, all of Columbia, SC; stepson, Jeremy Todd Midgett, his wife, Alisha, and her granddaughter, Carly Alexis Midgett, all of Harrisburg, NC. A memorial service will be held at Greenlawn Baptist Church located at 6612 Garner's Ferry Road in Columbia on Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 3 o'clock p.m. in the church sanctuary. The family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, 304 West Second Street. Washington, NC 27889; to Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown St, Washington, NC 27889; or Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund c/o Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, 1221 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204. Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington, NC.