Community servant and longtime Medgar Evers College employee Deborah Young was called home to be with the Lord on Jan. 1. She is the daughter of Dr. Marcella Maxwell. Young’s funeral is being held on Friday, Jan. 14 at 12 p.m. at Frank R. Bell Funeral Home located at 536 Sterling Place, Brooklyn.
Williams was born on October 21, 1949 to Marcella and Henry Williams in Brooklyn, New York. Deborah attended elementary, secondary, and high school in Brooklyn and became affectionately known as “Deb” by close family and friends. She was a graduate of Medgar Evers College and received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Cum Laude, a Masters in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College, and completed the Myers Briggs Type Indicator Professional Qualifying Program. All of this was accomplished while she was a loving wife and mother. Deborah married her late husband, Sam Young, on July 29, 1970; she became Deborah Young. Together, they had a son Vaughn, whom they loved and adored wholeheartedly. Vaughn and his wife Charisse blessed Deborah with two charming granddaughters so she went from “Deb” to being “Nana Deb” and loved every moment of it. Deb loved traveling, attending live concerts and cultural festivals. All who knew Deb knew that she loved to read, dance, frequent great restaurants, cook, and shop. Most of all, she loved her family, cherished her friends, career, and being a member of Brown Memorial Baptist Church.
Deborah worked at Medgar Evers College for over 30 years in the following capacities: Executive Assistant to the ESL/ESD Program, Financial Aid Counselor, Special Assistant to the Business Manager/Property Manager, Coordinator of the Evening/Weekend Program, Assistant Registrar, Career Counselor and retired as the Director of the Career Management Services Center where she held that position for 17 years. Although she was very busy shaping and influencing the educational aspirations of thousands of students over the years, she always put her family first. She received many awards and recognition for her dedicated service to the community. Her passion for helping and mentoring students trickled into her personal life. Deborah’s motto in life was to always help someone achieve their goals. She was a very dedicated woman.
She is survived by her Mother, her Son Vaughn, her Daughter-in-law Charisse, Granddaughters Story and Journey, Uncles Leslie Redwood and Eugene Kirton, many cousins, nieces and nephews, Goddaughter Cherise Littlejohn and her very Best Friend Gail Salley Littlejohn. She leaves behind a host of family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father Henry Williams, Stepfather Edward C. Maxwell, Aunt Yvonne “Sugar” Kirton, her Mother-in-Law Catherine Young and her Husband, Sam Young.
In lieu of sending flowers please feel free to contribute to Deborah’s work with students at Medgar Evers College. Contributions can be made to the MEC Community Council Scholarship Fund in Deborah’s honor. Please send contributions to:
Elizabeth Freeman, Treasurer
MEC Community Council
946 Schnectady Avenue #PH
Brooklyn, New York 11203
Due to the increase in COVID cases the funeral home has asked that family and friends attend the service via the below Zoom link.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86306450742?pwd=TXowemdNTExEUU94SlRmdUVEZ0I3Zz09
Meeting ID: 863 0645 0742
Passcode: 688011