Deborah Denise Wheat was born on March 14, 1963, to the late Mildred Wheat and Leonard Francis in Cleveland, Ohio, at Metropolitan General Hospital.

She received her education through the Cleveland Public School System and graduated in 1981 from East Technical High School. She went on to earn a medical assistant certification and a license as a home daycare provider.

Deborah was employed at Applied Technologies, Emerald Health, Jewish Family Services, and Wright Way Home Care Services as an Administrator. She concluded her career in Human Resources at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, where she retired in 2024. She gave her all to everything she did, always providing excellent service.

Deborah was also a wedding coordinator and had a vision for a large event center that would include childcare services, allowing guests with children to attend events with ease.

Deborah was a beautiful soul with tremendous faith in God. She was selfless and deeply loved her family and friends. Those who truly knew her would attest to the size of her heart. Though sweet, she was discerning about who she allowed into her inner circle. Since childhood, she had a passion for caring for others and did so selflessly. She adopted Larry Gore Jr. as her son when his mother passed away when he was just two years old. She was the primary caregiver for her own mother during her illness until her passing. Deborah also ran a home daycare and lovingly cared for many children. She was a devoted wife who tenderly cared for her late husband, Darryl Harris, until the day he passed.

She adored her daughter and grandchildren, who were the apple of her eye. She maintained close relationships with her siblings and extended family. Strong-willed and intolerant of nonsense, Deborah had little patience for being crossed—she would cut ties immediately and, for some, permanently.

“Deborah” spiritually means “Orderly Motion,” and she lived out her name to the fullest.

Deborah took care of her business. She was detail-oriented, punctual, and reliable—often the first to arrive at any event. She was never late for work and disliked waiting for others. In her words, “I don’t have time to be waiting on people.” She loved to travel and would be packed weeks in advance. Shopping was one of her joys, and she always had whatever anyone needed—she was the go-to person in the family. She would have won every episode of Let’s Make a Deal. Deborah also loved playing card games like Spades and Uno and was known as a great partner. She was talented and could draw beautifully.

Deborah shared many characteristics with her mother, and their resemblance was so striking that it often caused people to take a second look. She fought hard and long and concluded her battle with illness on May 5, 2025.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred Wheat and Leonard Francis; her husband, Darryl Harris; her brother, Kenneth Wheat; and her sister, Kimberly Francis.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her daughter, Regina Dublin; her son, Larry Gore Jr.; four grandchildren, Carolina Dublin, Jameel Braxton, Kayla Dublin, and Amina Thomas; her great-granddaughter, Nimwe Braxton; siblings, Veda (Wendell) Swoope, Trena (Anthony) Stargill, Darryl Wheat, Linda (Melvin) Brooks, Monica Williams, Andrea (Tyrone) Taylor, Latoya (Dwayne) Francis-Edwards, and Leonard Martin; step-sister, Robin (Keith) Rogers Brown; sister-in-law, Edna Wheat; aunts, Gwyndolyn Francis, Gladys Hayes, and Barbara Morrison; uncle, Tommie Morrison; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other loving family members.