Obituary of Debra L. Carthan

On Tuesday, June 10, 1958 in Trenton, New Jersey, God blessed Rev. George W. Carthan, Sr. and Sarah Jane Margaret Godbolt Carthan with their sixth child and third daughter, Debra Louise Carthan. As a child, Debra loved to play with paper dolls and would listen every day to her favorite radio show, Big John and Sparky. At an early age, Debra started taking piano lessons. Her gift of music allowed her to also play the organ and write several songs. One song, Shower of Blessing, was recorded as a 45rpm by the Carthan Ensemble on Birthright records. Debra had a beautiful voice and sang in the chorus in high school. She received her diploma from Bordentown Regional High School in 1976 and later attended Mercer County Community College. After High School, she was employed by McGraw Hill in Hightstown where she retired after twenty-five years of service. Rev. Carthan and his wife were people of incredibly strong faith who taught their children about God, and Debra’s childhood was shaped by the virtues of hard work, faith and devotion to family. Debra accepted Christ as her Savior at Greater Faith Tabernacle UHC in Bordentown, New Jersey and was baptized by her father who was the esteemed Pastor at that time. The Bible encourages Christians to use their talents for God, and Debra did just that. In addition to being an usher, she also sang and played for the sunshine band, youth and ensemble choirs, Women’s Day Choir and the Singers of Faith. Debra loved gospel music and The Clark Sisters were one of her favorite groups. When she sang, she did vocal runs with ease and would often be called upon by her father to sing one of his favorite songs, “Rest in Me”. Debra had a big heart, a bigger smile and a great sense of humor. Her laugh was hearty and full and she would have the entire family in stitches with the stories she told. Sometimes, she would even tickle herself from laughing so hard. It was as though she could feel the punch line in the depths of her soul. However, make no mistake, while Debra had a funny side she was also straight-forward and pulled no punches. Debra had a great love for family. As the baby girl, it was well known that her father would listen to her, and her brothers would use this to their advantage. Gary Craig, who was the baby boy of the family and very dear to Debra’s heart, would often knock on her door to ask a favor when Mom had already said no. Debra, who had a special love for Craig, always did everything she could for him. Debra also had a special relationship with her nieces and nephews. This selfless love can be seen in the way she always protected, encouraged and spent time with them. In 1985, Debra was diagnosed with kidney failure. Despite this diagnosis, Debra’s faith sustained her. She knew that God wrote the days of her life in His book and that He didn’t write it in pencil. Approximately five years after her diagnosis, she received a kidney. Hallelujah! When God sees you do your part, He will do His part. God can restore your health. Give you new opportunities. A new perspective, and after her transplant, she was given a new life. Debra’s dialysis was unquestionably a part of God’s larger design when after a decade, her kidney began to fail. While family and friends thoughts were assaulted with concerns about her lifespan and quality of life, Debra still knew that there is life after sickness, and even though there may be pain, it is not the end. She believed that God was still on the throne and that a full life was still in front of her. Thoughts of dialysis can lead you to a dark place, but in an article published in the Trenton Times, Debra valiantly states, “I don’t dwell on it. I don’t worry about it. I got a life to live”. As a result of her kidney failure, Debra became a groundbreaking pioneer when she became one of two individuals to begin continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) at home. During this season of her life, she was encouraged to run for office by Mayor Edward Tyler of Fieldsboro, New Jersey. Debra won the seat, took the oath of office and was elected as a Councilwoman for three terms. Debra endured many painful operations and was once asked by her brother how she endured. There is tremendous peace that accompanies trust in the sovereignty of God and her reply reflected her faith when she said, “God didn’t want no coward soldiers.” Even during her hardest moments, Debra knew that God doesn’t owe any of us a single day. That each day is a gift, not a right. Debra knew that God had a greater reward for people who are faithful in the midst of tough times and no one was tougher than Deb. Debra used her gift of music to play the piano for Union Baptist Church in Bordentown and Creech Temple, UHC in Trenton. Having been a lifelong member of Greater Faith Tabernacle, she later joined Creech Temple. With whispered words of love from her brother to go home and a tear in her eye, Debra left the sufferings of this present time and stepped into glory on Thursday, September 29th. Deb did not live one day longer than God had chosen for her from the beginning of time. Nor did she live one day less. Debra lived exactly the length of time God determined in eternity past. Nothing was stolen from her. Everything was grace. Deb never needed to preach a sermon—she was a sermon. God planned Deb’s life and she ran her race. She fought the good fight of faith. She endured to the end and has now received her crown. Debra was predeceased by her parents, Rev. George W. Carthan, Sr. and Sarah Jane Margaret Godbolt Carthan, two sisters, Dolores A. and Helen L. Carthan and a brother, Gary Craig Carthan. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate her life brothers: Rt. Rev. Dr. George W. Carthan, Jr. (Barbara) of New Castle, DE; Calvin J. Carthan, Sr. of Fieldsboro, NJ (Janet) of Marlton, NJ; Ralph D. Carthan, Sr. (Mary) of Delran, NJ; Ronald L. Carthan, Sr. (Denise) of Burlington Township, NJ; Larry K. Carthan, Sr. (Deborah) of Burlington City, NJ; Charles A. Carthan (Stefanie) of Florence Township, NJ; Aunts: Mary Reaves, Nettie White and Viola Cobbs; Godchildren: Adam D. and Andrew D. Carthan; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives, church family and friends. Sorrowfully submitted, The Carthan Family