Funeral services for the late Mrs. Debra Johnson will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 11:00 am at Christ Is The Answer Seventh Day Adventist Church, Orangeburg, SC. Pastor Michael Miller will officiate.  Viewing for the public will be held on Wednesday from 12:00 noon- 8:00 pm at the funeral home.  An Omega Omega service conducted by members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. will be held at 7:00 pm at the funeral home.


Debra Michelle Wanamaker-Johnson, the daughter of Dr. Ida Elizabeth Wanamaker and the late Mr. Carl Wanamaker Sr., was born on August 15, 1967 in Orangeburg, South Carolina. She entered into eternal rest on January 21, 2017.

Mrs. Wanamaker-Johnson moved to Philadelphia at an early age and soon relocated back to Orangeburg, South Carolina at the age of six. At a young age, became a member of Andrew Chapel Baptist Church where she served on the Youth Choir and the Junior Usher Board.

Debra was a 1985 graduate of Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Education from South Carolina State University. Debra had a vast amount of education and training in the psychology and counseling fields. Over the years, her employment entailed various occupations in the areas of counseling and mental health fields. At the time of her passing, she was employed at South Carolina State University as the Director of the Office of International and National Student Exchange Programs. She also served as a faculty member, where she touched the lives of many students, staff and other faculty through her knowledge, loving spirit, and kind heart. Mrs. Wanamaker-Johnson was a member of the Orangeburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

"Debra, Debbie, & Deb", as she was affectionately known by those who knew her, loved to read and travel. She was very organized and creative. Debra believed in a positive outlook and saw the best in everyone. She was a positive thinker that encouraged others to be their best. She would often say to her son, 'Your Greatest and Only Enemy is Yourself'. She was loved by all her family and friends and will be truly missed by all who knew her. She had a way with words and the ability of uniting people together. She had a good heart and would do anything she could to help anyone.

Mrs. Wanamaker-Johnson is preceded in death by her father, Mr. Carl Wanamaker, Sr.; her maternal grandparents, Mr. Willie (Lucille) Jenkins and her paternal grandmother, Ms. Bertha Wanamaker.

Debra leaves to cherish her memories: her loving husband, Darrin T. Johnson, the apple of her eye; her son, Elijah Terry Brown; her loving mother, Dr. Ida Elizabeth Wanamaker; three brothers, Carl (Sheila) Wanamaker, Jr.  of Charlotte, NC, Kareem (Nikeya) Fisher and Suleiman (Melissa) Fisher all of Philadelphia, Pa.; an aunt ,Lucille (Matthew) Cleckley of Orangeburg; stepchildren, Zaheerah, Trenton, Tori, Taylor, and Savanna; mother-in-law, Patricia B. Johnson; brothers- in -law, Willie Johnson, III, Jeffrey D. (Adriane) Johnson; sisters- in- law, Regina Johnson, Joyce (Stanley) Timmons, Judith (Ronald) Geohaghan all of Orangeburg, SC. Debra had no biological sisters but was blessed to be loved by four special sisters,  Sandra (Sandy) Clark, Mary M. White, Karen J. (Douglas) Brown, and Lisa (Tracy) Hall-Hyman; God children Eboni, Nia, DeAundra, Valerie, Deloris, Maryah, Jeremiah, David, and Rayford and a host of other loving nieces and nephews, relatives, co-workers and friends.