Debra Williams Besancon

Unable to recover from a stroke suffered on August 18, 2024, Deb passed in repose, in accordance with her explicit directives, late evening on August 31, 2024. 

A resident of Tammany Terrace, Covington, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, Debra was a woman with such a force of will, her loss will be felt by all who knew her.

Born in Whiteville, Columbus County, North Carolina, the youngest daughter of the late David "DC" and Elouise Williams, Deb lived her life to the fullest.

Diabetic for nearly 50 years, she was determined not to let her chronic or acute diseases define her life. Neither organ transplants nor cancers would dim those blue eyes or self-determination.

Returning for the third time to St. Tammany, Deb was where she wanted to be. In the 1980s, a cardiology tech at Slidell Memorial Hospital; in the 1990s, again a resident of Slidell, accompanying her husband on a Coast Guard duty assignment; and finally in 2021, returning to be with friends and design and build her forever house... making it a home.

Survived by her Husband of 42 years, Russell A. Besancon (LT, USCG -Ret / Librarian) and his Son, Colin (companion, Toni) of Austin, TX; Step-Son, Samuel Drew (Sandy) of Madison, WI; an Estranged Sister, Brenda Jo Williams of Wilmington, NC; Dear Friends, Robin and Bob, Donna, the "Kick It" book club, Carla Moody, the many friends from across the globe, and her golden-doodle, EllieMae.

Cremated per her final directive, inurnment at a future date will be at the family plot in Lake Waccamaw, NC.

Thanks, and ever thanks to the dedicated, compassionate staff of the St. Tammany Hospital Neuroscience ICU, and the care given by Nurse Lorraine, NP Lisa and the staff at PAM Covington. Better care and attention to the demands of their patient, and seeing to the needs of family could not be possible.

"The hour of departure has arrived —  we go our ways —  you to die and I to live. Which is better, only the gods know."