is a native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. She is a product of the local public school system as she attended Wright Elementary, Pryor Middle School, and graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School. Debi received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science with two minors in Political Science and Business from Troy University, and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of West Florida. Debi is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and one of the founding members of the Emerald Coast Local Black Social Workers Chapter.

Debi began her professional career working at the Fort Walton Beach Public Housing Authority under the umbrella of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a social worker for the National United Tenant Association (NAUTA). She later worked in behavioral health at Bridgeway Center, Inc. She retired from State of Florida Department of Health Okaloosa as the Okaloosa County Health Department’s Director of Healthy Start, where she worked tirelessly providing resources and support to pregnant mothers and their babies. Debi is the former Executive Director of Okaloosa County Head Start, providing early childhood education services to infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children from low-income families.