Deborah "D. J." Midgett | Eastern North Carolina Now

Born: September 10, 1954, Died: February 26, 2014

    Mrs. Deborah Joyce "D. J." Teague Midgett, 59, a resident of Washington, NC, passed away February 26, 2014, after a 12 1/2 year battle with cancer.

    She was born in Columbia, SC to Neville Eugene Teague and Peggy Joyce Kelley Teague on September 10, 1954. She graduated from Lower Richland High School in Hopkins, SC in 1972. In 1976, D. J. graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of South Carolina as a proud Gamecock with a B.A. in Elementary Education. In addition, she graduated from Appalachian State University with a Master of Arts in Education in 1985 and obtained her Certification in Supervision/Administration from Winthrop University in 1990. Following graduation from USC, D. J. pursued a life long career as an educator. She served as elementary teacher in several school systems in both South Carolina and in North Carolina, as both teacher and library/media specialist. In school administration in Gaston County Schools, she served as director of the Teacher Resource Center and Instructional Technology Specialist. Other administrative positions in NC included Director of Instructional Technology, Rowan-Salisbury Schools; Professional Development Specialist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; and Curriculum Director & Developer for ExplorNet ENTech, as Educator on Loan.

    Wanting to finish her career doing what she loved, teaching children, D. J. returned to the classroom and served as media coordinator at Hornet's Elementary and finishing her career in the media center at Washington High School. In addition to serving in public schools, D. J. served as a consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction, IBM and Hart, Inc. She also served as Adjunct Professor at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC. During her long teaching career, D. J. received many honors. She was twice selected Teacher of the Year, received the statewide NC Technology Educator of the Year Leadership Award as well as the Gertrude Coward Award of Excellence in Media for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. D. J. was a past member of the NC Association of Educational Communications & Technology (now NCTIES) where she served as board member, and state pre-conference chair, and state conference co-chair.

    D. J. loved her church and was a devoted Christian. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and active in her circle making cancer journals and hats for patients of the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center. D. J. loved sharing her historic home with others and had a unique talent for making people feel warm and welcome. She had a passion for family and history, and enjoyed beach combing along the shore at Hatteras and Ocracoke. Her hobbies included scrapbooking, decorating her home, and planning her annual weeklong "Camp Midgett" for her granddaughter Carly.

    D. J. is survived by her husband Ray of the home; son William Buckley "Buck" Brice of Charlotte, NC; parents Neville Eugene Teague and Peggy Joyce Kelley Teague, sister Rebecca Kaye Teague Madden and husband Allen, brother Neville Eugene Teague Jr., niece Kelley Vaughan Madden and nephew Arthur Allen Madden III, all of Columbia, SC; stepson Jeremy Todd Midgett, his wife Alisha, and her granddaughter Carly Alexis Midgett, all of Harrisburg, NC.

    A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church of Washington, NC on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 2 o'clock pm in the church sanctuary. The family will receive friends in Wesley Hall following the service.

    In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Washington, 304 West 2nd Street, Washington, NC 27889; to Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, 1209 Brown Street, Washington, NC 27889; or Carolinas Ovarian Cancer Fund, c/o Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, 1221 E. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204.

    Condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Midgett family.