Deborah Lynn (Whiteside) Carpenter

Debbie Carpenter passed away on Friday, April 12, 2024 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC at the age of sixty-eight.  Debbie was diagnosed with cancer 8 months ago and she faced the illness with bravery, strength, and grace.  She is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus in eternal peace and love.  Debbie’s loved ones will celebrate her life on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church located at 5868 Pigeon Rd, Canton, North Carolina, 28716.  They will receive friends at 2pm and the service will be at 3pm. 

Debbie was born in 1956 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC.  She was raised in Leicester and lived in Western North Carolina most of her life.  She was preceded in death by her mother Mary June Sluder Whiteside, Grandparents Cariel & Icie Sluder and Ray & Alice Whiteside.  She was also preceded by her step-daughter, Kari Jellema, maternal Aunts and Uncles:  Lethia Sluder Rogers, Omie Sluder Gillespie, Margaret Sluder Roberts, Thurman Sluder, and Richard Sluder, and paternal Uncles:  Don Whiteside, Jack Whiteside, Dennis “Mickey” Whiteside, Roger Whiteside, and Steven Whiteside. 

Debbie is survived by her other half, John Jellema, her parents Bill & Jo Whiteside, her step-daughter Chelsea Lair and her grandson Jason Kennedy, her “kiddo” and husband Misty & David Cates & their children Dayton & Dallas Flake, and DarLynn Cates, her sisters Joy Whiteside & Lee Whiteside and their families, her dearest friends whom she loved as family: Tammy Garren, Rick Garren, Greg Garren, Cheryl Rice, Hal Lorick, Linda Garren, Brandon Praytor, Coleman Owens.

There are other friends and family that she loved dearly and numerous kids that Debbie delighted in being a part of their lives and watching them grow up.  There are recent friends made in the places where she received the best of care:  Swannanoa Valley Health and Rehab, Dr. Luk & the staff at Messino Cancer Clinic, the staff at Mission Cancer Clinic, & Dr. McKay and the staff at Memorial Mission Hospital.  As she faced the biggest trial in her life she sincerely greeted every receptionist and nurse and told them she loved them.

There are so many members of Debbie’s given and hand-crafted family that naming them would almost be impossible. If Debbie loved you, she made sure you knew it. 

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