Deborah "Debbie" Cole Barfield Cleveland born September 24th 1950 died in her sleep on December 3rd 2022. She fought off lung cancer after lung cancer by having ongoing immunotherapy and occasional radiation until she couldn't fight anymore. She was a champion determined to be a part of her grandchildren's lives. She was preceded in death by her father, Sanford Allen Cole who unfortunately died while she was still a teenager and he was never not missed. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert Mathis Cleveland, who understood her better than any other soul, including her children.

Debbie was Survive by her mother Fannie T. Cole who turned 101 earlier this year: by her brother David Cole, both of New York City; daughters Gina Bennis of Greenville, SC and Arianna Barfield Connal (Chris) of Boston, MA; Grandchildren Erica Imfeld, Maeve and Nuala Connal, Great Grandchildren Waylon Aalberg, Jack and Ryleigh Walkenhorst and Kori Johnson. Also survived by many cousins found through her many years of genealogy research, but most especially Robin Trost Bounds who she should grew up with and kept in  close contact with.

In addition to her own family, Debbie spent more than 30 years researching the lives and deaths of her husband Robert Cleveland's family. Pillars of the community they lived in, the family included not only many local namesakes but historical names including Grover Cleveland and Thomas Wolfe.

She spent much of the last 30 years rescuing Scottish Terriers. Her home, full of items with their likeness were meant to be given to the Scottish Terrier Foundation to help with future rescues. Unfortunately none of her final wishes were granted.

She did however donate her body to science in which she will inevitably save many humans that she liked far less than her Scotties.

Debbie was very politically passionate with her last year's spent criticizing the life of Donald Trump. While this behavior often caused her to be put in Facebook jail and often unfriended,she would not be swayed. Her final words to those who disagreed would not be appropriate in this forum but those that knew her knew exactly what she would say.

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