Deborah H. Watkins
Deborah Watkins is a native of Charlotte, NC but currently resides in Durham, NC with her husband, 
Sam. They have three adult children, Jessica, Quenton, and Brandon.
Deborah is a two-time breast cancer survivor who is not just surviving, she is thriving! She has just completed a series of 3 children’s books for beginning readers. This has been a “labor of love” because she loves teaching and tutoring. These books can be read independently which helps build the self-esteem and self-confidence of beginning readers. View the first few pages of each book when you go to the Bookstore tab. In 2011, Deborah completed her first book of poetry – Seasoned With His Love. It is a unique inspirational blend of prose and poetry that will warm your heart and encourage you to treasure all of life’s moments, great and small.After her 30-year career in corporate America, she is finally pursuing her passion – teaching and tutoring. She is currently an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC where she teaches Career Planning courses in the Student Professional Development Program in the School of Business. As part of her company, The Gift of Knowledge, she tutors children in her home and at a local elementary school.
Four Baby Boomer retirees (all NCCU alumni) started an independent, nonprofit K-2 school for low-income families in Durham, NC. We started this school, Gift of Knowledge Academy – www.giftofknowledgeacademy.org because we believe that every child should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential and that begins with providing them with a firm foundation in literacy and math. We believe in the old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” We want to start early and prevent kids from getting behind in school. We opened the fall of 2016, and we will be located at the Family Life Enrichment Center at Greater Emmanuel Temple of Grace church. We received our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in October 2015.
All of our funds to start and operate the school will come from a variety of external sources – individuals, businesses, organizations, foundation grants (community, corporate, and independent), and the government. Please help us achieve our mission by making a tax-deductible contribution.
Deborah is also working on a Business Plan to manufacture and market her patented laundry product, the Toss ‘N Wash. Visit the company website to find out more information about this great product that should be in every household. http://www.laundrytossbydesign.com/
Deborah is an active member of Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Durham, NC where she is a deaconess and teaches a new member’s class. As a gifted and dedicated teacher, she has been called on to teach such classes as Deaconess Training, Career Preparation, Understanding Discipleship, and Healthy Eating Lifestyle Change.
Deborah is also a member of Sisters Network® Triangle, an African American Breast Cancer Support Group that is committed to increasing local and national awareness of the devastating impact that breast cancer has in the African American community. Some of the proceeds from the sale of her poetry book are being donated to this organization.
In February 2017, Deborah started blogging for Fruit of the Spirit Messenger (fosmessenger.com). Never think you are too old to learn something new. Join the site and get in on the conversation, share your fruitful encouragement, receive your spiritual nourishment, and start living a fruit-filled life! “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”