Deborah Ruth Stone

Born April 24,1956, Debbie was the youngest daughter of Reverend Thurman and Evelyn Stone. Her two older siblings were Butch and Miriam. When she was 11 months old she had an accident which resulted in cerebral palsy. Although she was not expected to live to be a teenager and every day was a physical and emotional struggle, she outlived each of her immediate family members.

When Debbie was a young teenager, her mother passed away and her father remarried to Betty Hardee. Debbie gained not only a bonus mother but three additional brothers, Roger, Ray, and Richard Hardee.

Debbie grew up at Calvary Baptist Church of Charlotte, where her father was the pastor for over 20 years. She later attended Hickory Grove Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir, and for the past 10 years she has attended The Pointe Church in Belmont.

One of Debbie’s favorite activities was to collect items for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry. She also loved shopping at Walmart and buying Little Debbie treats and greeting cards. For many years, Debbie sent birthday cards to family and friends which required great time and effort for her to laboriously write a personal note inside each one.

After leaving the family home, Debbie spent some time in a group home setting, as well as living independently in an apartment with the assistance of a care giver. For the past 25 years, Debbie has lived in the home of her caregiver and friend, Cindy Alexander, for whom the family is very grateful.

As previously stated, Debbie was preceded in death by her mother, father, brother and sister. She is survived by her step-mother, Betty Stone Harding (Bill), her sister-in-law Vicki Stone-Hicks (Harry), brothers Roger (Rhonda), Ray (Andrea), and Richard (Traci), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Though we grieve her passing from this world, we rejoice that Debbie is in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as well as her family members who went before her. We also take great comfort knowing she is running freely without any hindrances and singing beautifully at the top of her lungs!

Family and friends will gather to remember and celebrate Debbie’s life on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at McEwen Funerals & Cremations at Forest Lawn West, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, followed with an 11:00am service led by her brothers, Reverend Ray Hardee, Roger Hardee and Richard Hardee. Burial will take place immediately afterwards.

Anyone who feels led to honor Debbie’s dedication to Operation Christmas Child, can send a contribution to Samaritan’s Purse at PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607, or give online at samaritanspurse.org.