Deborah Ruth Cannon was born October 10, 1951 to Dewitt A Cannon and Bernice Ruth Cannon in Newark NJ. She grew up in Montclair, NJ where she attended grade school and graduated in 1969. She continued her education at Rutgers University.
During her teen years she became a rifle marksman and a gymnast. She threatened to use that rifle until her final days just ask any of her grandchildren.
She was married in 1973 and again in 1979. These unions gave her her greatest loves, her children, Leslie Vincent Randall and Ilona R Chambers.
Debby begin her career in1979 at the Middlesex County Board of Social Services as a child support investigator, an intake manager, and a Medicaid supervisor . When she retired in 2015, she earned the prestigious position of an adult Medicaid supervisor. She actively participated and held various positions in the Communications Workers of America Union Local 1082 throughout her years with MCBOSS. She remained active with the union even during her retirement.
In 1979 she became a resident of Plainfield NJ. She was an active member of the Plainfield Area YMCA Board of Directors from 1983 through 2020. In recent years she became a dual resident of DE and NJ as she spent most of her time in New Castle, DE caring for her beloved aging mother. She was a member of the Abundant Life Family Worship Church of New Brunswick, NJ and attended Ezion Mt Carmel United Methodist Church in Wilmington, DE
Debby absolutely loved her family near and far, close or distant. She would travel the world to be with family and would not miss an occasion or celebration. She was famous for driving hours just for a hug or to hang out for a short while. She had a joy of the great outdoors you could find her “chilling” outside on the deck with the fireplace lit with her favorite “Low Country Boil", working on a yard project or at the beach catching the day's sunrise/sunset while walking along the waves to just to get her get feet wet.
On March 31, 2020, Debby transitioned to be reunited with her grandfather Joel Irvin, grandmother Ruth Irvin, aunt Louise Burghet, uncle James Cannon, uncle George Cannon, father Dewitt Cannon Sr, Sonny Irvin, nephew Deangelo Bishop and goddaughter Angela Brooks.
She leaves to cherish her legacy her mother, Bernice R. Cannon, son L. Vincent Randall, daughter Ilona R. Richmond (Derrick), sister Annie Branscomb (Lester), brother Dewitt “Buddy” Cannon Jr. (Maria); grandchildren Dominique L. Randall (Justina), Devin T. Randall, Bishop Randall, Leslie V. Randall Jr., Yasmeen R Yancey; great-grand daughter Violet Parker, nieces Courtney & Kristen Cannon, a host of cousins family & friends.
We all will miss Debby dearly. The seeds of her love are firmly planted within us. God saw you getting tired, a cure was not to be. He wrapped her in his loving arms and whispered “Come with me.” She suffered much in silence, but her spirit did not bend. She faced her pain with courage, until the very end. She tried so hard to stay with us but her fight was not in vain, for God took her to His loving home and freed her from the pain.
Loving Submitted
The Family
Debby's Celebration of life will be Friday Juneteenth, 2020. It will be live streamed at the below link:
https://www.judkinscolonialhome.com/obituaries/Deb...In lieu of flowers, gifts etc the family is asking that donations be made to Deborah’s non-profit, The Ruth Foundation either via cashapp at $TheRuthFoundation or a check or money order made out to The Ruth Foundation and mailed to PO Box 3822
Trenton NJ 08629
