Debra Newton:
CLASS OF 1973
Wolfson High SchoolClass of 1973
Jacksonville, FL
Mandarin High SchoolClass of 1995
Jacksonville, FL
Dupont Junior High SchoolClass of 1970
Jacksonville, FL
Loretto Elementary SchoolClass of 1967
Jacksonville, FL
Garden City Elementary SchoolClass of 1966
Jacksonville, FL
Debra's Story
Life
Updated June 1, 2023 - My life is great and I have been truly blessed. I married my high school sweetheart, Charlie Newton, (also a Wolfson 73 graduate) two years out of high school. We've been married now for going 9n 48 years. We live in Fruit Cove just south of Mandarin in Julington Creek Plantation. We have two children. Our son, Chris (47), is a Firefighter/Paramedic and Peer Support Person for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue as well the Peer Support Director for JFRD. He's also a Deacon for Church of Eleven22. Our daughter, Allison (42), is a Nurse Practitioner for an Urgent Care Facility in Colirado Springs, Colorado. We have 2 grandsons. Chase Newton, 20 is a 2021 High School Graduate and recently started tge process to become a Firefighter with JFRD like his Dad. Cade Newton is 18 and a 2023 high school graduate. He in the process of getting his pilot license and becoming a Commercial Pilot. ir joining the Aor Force to become a Fighter Pilot. We have been very fortunate with our children and grandkids. I went back to school when our daughter left for FSU to finish my degree in nursing. I currently work part time managing flu and health clinics in the field in the Northeast Florida area through Quest Diagnostics. What a great job, and the hours and money aren't bad either. Charlie retired from JEA 10/1/2010. We are still traveling all over the world, just not for work anymore. Yes, he still loves to FISH and HUNT. We've spent a lot of quality family time together out in the boat. And winning the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament and the Kingbuster Tournament wasn't bad either.
Now our two grandson's are getting the tournament fever as well. I am the Past President of an organization called COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors). We take care of the families of Law Enforcement Officers killed in the line of duty. I spend a lot of time volunteering when I am not spending time with my two grandsons or my granddogs. I am also the past President of the Saint Johns Federated Republican Women and spend a lot of time working on political issues for the Rebublican Party. I can...Expand for more
't complain about a thing in my life. I am truely blessed.
WORKPLACE
I worked for a couple of insurance companies out of high school, then went to work for the Internal Revenue Service from 1985-1997. Hated it. After my youngest child left for college, I decided to go back myself. I got a degree in nursing and love it. I work part time when I want to. It's very fulfilling and the pay's not bad.
I always wanted to be a nurse when I grew up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea. As it turns out, they were right.
WAYS TO RELAX
Travel wherever we want to go and whenever we want to.. Occasionally I go visit my best friend in Vegas. She's also a Wolfson graduate of 1976 (Pat King). She lives 2 blocks East of the Strip and 3 blocks South of MGM Casino. Ironically, we had boys 4 days apart and they have also been best friends since Kindergarten. I also meet up with my Buddy's Darene Reynold Durden and Robin Geoghagan Soud for lunch or dinner. They are both 1973 Wolfson graduates and live near me. Occasionally several of us 73 Wolfson ladies that still live near by will get together for lunch.. Robin, Darene as well as Darla Mahon Erdelyi, Peggy Marcum McCarter, and Helen Greene Westbrook, will join us.
PETS
No pets of our own but love our granddogs Lucy., Molly and Ember. Now I have to travel to Colorado to babysit them.
FIRST JOB
My first job was at Wesley Manor, where I got paid $1.45/hr to serve meals to the residents. What I remember most about it is this was the place that most Mandarin kids worked at first. Not a lot of places to work at back then. Boy has that changed.
CHILDHOOD MEMORY
As I was growing up in Mandarin, a lot of people I went to school with thought and verbalized the fact that we lived in the sticks. I was very frequently hurt by that fact. At the time I never realized what I really had. I grew up on the water in a big brick house on 3 acres of land. Now look at all those people who would die to live out here now. The HICKS FROM THE STICKS are still here making lots of money off all those people who made fun of us in school. Karma is something else.
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