Deborah Kennedy, 62, passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, after a brave battle with cancer. Formerly of Camden County, and originally from Washington, D.C., Deborah has been a resident of Fernandina Beach, Fla., for more than 10 years.
Deborah is preceded in death by her parents, Dean and Robert Stein of St. Simons Island.
She is survived by her daughter, Leila Baldwin, and her husband, Benjamin, of Windsor, Colo.; beloved granddaughters, Annalise Kennedy of Woodbine and Estie and Alta Baldwin of Windsor; her brother, Douglas Stein of Washington, D.C.; nephews, Jonathan and Alexander Stein, both of New York City; and many extended family members and friends.
After a successful career in real estate, and while teaching Sunday school at First United Methodist Church of Kingsland, Deborah felt the call to become an educator. She did her undergraduate work at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and Armstrong State University in Savannah. She eventually went on to earn her master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and teach honors English at Camden Middle School in Kingsland where she was adored by students and fellow teachers alike. It was not uncommon for students to pop into Ms. Kennedy’s classroom years after being taught by her, just to say hello and get a hug.
Deborah enjoyed traveling and spending time with friends. She will forever be remembered for her quick wit, her sense of style and her ability to light up a room with her smile.
Services for Deborah will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley Heard Funeral Directors, 1305 Atlantic Ave. in Fernandina Beachm with Rev. Sean Strachan officiating. Her family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery in St. Marys beside her parents.
The family asks that you remember Deborah by donations to Community Hospice and Palliative Care of Fernandina Beach to whom the family would like to extend their deepest gratitude.