Debra L. Hart

Debra L. Hart of Fayetteville, West Virginia lost her long-fought, courageous battle with complications from renal failure on August 6, 2016 at Raleigh General Hospital with her husband and family at her side. She was born November 19, 1958 in Jacksonville, Florida; the daughter of the late Donald Green, USN, and Roxie Green Blevins. In addition to her parents, Debra was pre-deceased by her step-father Buford Blevins, two nephews, Corey and Seth Willis, and her maternal great-uncle and aunt, Woodrow and Lena Bennett who were instrumental in her upbringing in Fayetteville.

As a child, Debbie was considered the “Opie” of Fayetteville as she often accompanied her Uncle Woodrow while he performed his duties as Constable. Her uncle’s gift of a beautiful horse, “Caution”, moved her adolescent focus to equestrian pursuits and she participated in many local horse shows and trail rides which led to an equestrian and art scholarship offer from then Morris Harvey College. After her graduation from Fayetteville High School, Debra accepted a scholarship from the West Virginia Institute of Technology to study voice and piano, where she was an important member of the Tech Singers, the school’s show choir. Under the tutelage of Dr. Guy Baker, Debra became one of the first freshmen to be assigned solo responsibilities for some of the most difficult classical choral compositions; an accomplishment of which she was very proud. During her time there, the group toured the eastern half of the United States and portions of Canada, recorded multiple albums, and entertained at the inauguration of Governor Jay Rockefeller. She returned to Fayetteville where she worked as a certified dental assistant for several years. She later graduated second in her class from nursing school as an LPN. She was very proud to provide nursing care to our nation’s veterans at the VA Hospital in Beckley. As her health deteriorated, she returned to her passion for the visual arts by painting detailed landscapes on antique slate shingles and was a juried artist at Tamarack of West Virginia where her pieces sold as soon as they were displayed.

Debbie cherished her family and seldom passed an opportunity to be with aunts, uncles, and cousins as long as her health permitted. She was an only child raised in a household of three generations of adults which provided her an understanding of life earlier than most children. Additionally, after Buford and Roxie married, they took in foster children from troubled situations providing Debra with a realistic outlook on the teenage years. This also provided her the opportunity to spend time with her cousins of the O’Dell family. As the youngest, she was teased and protected and loved at the same time. Stories of their childish escapades at Aunt Ginny’s house were often the prevailing topics during family holiday gatherings.

In addition to her husband, J. Alan Hart, Debra is survived by her loving step-daughter Kristin Davenport, Boonton, NJ, her husband Michael, and their new daughter Alexandria Opal Davenport, Debra’s only grandchild. She is also survived by a brother, Ronald Willis (wife Michele) of Huntington West Virginia who was adopted as an infant during Roxie’s participation in the foster parent program. Others left to cherish her memory include Sue Eldridge of Princeton, WV, sister to Donald Green, brothers and sisters of Buford Blevins, and the remaining members of the O’Dell family. As close as any family member is long-time friend, Millie Yaya, who sacrificed her time and family commitments to provide Debbie the care she needed these last few months at home with the capable assistance of family friend Cindy Hewitt. Debra’s little dog Spike will miss her also.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of the CCU at Raleigh General Hospital, the emergency room staff at Plateau Medical Center, and the emergency response team from Jan-Care Ambulance for their professionalism, care and concern during this difficult time.

Friends and family are invited to visitation Tuesday, August 9th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Tyree Funeral Home, 999 Jones Avenue, Oak Hill, West Virginia. The funeral service will be held there on Wednesday, August 10th at 2:00pm. Burial will follow at the Hall Cemetery in Gatewood

Online condolences may be sent to www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are made by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill