Deborah Jane Garza

Deborah “Debbie” J. Garza, 71, passed away on Monday March 4, 2024 at Hospice of South Texas-Dornburg, with her wife by her side. Debbie was born October 1, 1952 in Mercedes, Texas to the late Abel and Dora Garza.

Debbie loved Texas summers, when she could invite all her friends over for BBQ and beer. In 1971, Debbie graduated from Weslaco High School. She then moved on to Incarnate Word University in San Antonio, Texas, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 1975. Debbie met her soulmate in 1989 and married Beatrice “Bea” Benavides on October 9, 2014. The two were each other’s life long companions and friends. They were both blessed with many nieces and nephews to love. Debbie began her career as a Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, in Hidalgo County, Texas. She then went on to Texas Juvenile Probation Commission in Austin, Texas where she served as Chief of Staff. While there she became a paralegal to better understand Juvenile Law. She also created and implemented the Title IV-E program to provide residential services to children being supervised by county juvenile probation departments.

In her tenure with TJPC, Debbie was instrumental in helping develop programs and services for youth in the Texas juvenile justice system. She retired in April of 2011, where her hard work and great ethic was greatly missed. She was an avid golfer, grill master and loved to fish. She was an active member at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Her other hobbies were camping, traveling, cruising, cooking and spending time with her loved ones.

Debbie is survived by her wife, Bea; sisters, Sandra (Richard) Messbarger and Judy Ybarbo; and many many friends and family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dora and Abel Garza. Debbie was a devoted daughter, sister, aunt, friend and wife. She will especially be remembered for her kind and loyal heart. She had a fiery spirit that served to strengthen everyone she met.

Memorial services will be held Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM at San Jose Catholic Church, 2435 Oak Crest Avenue, Austin, TX 78704. An additional memorial service will be held Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Victory Cathedral, 1309 East Mesquite Lane, Victoria, Texas.

Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.