“And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”  Revelations 21:4

The sunrise of her beautiful life began on Nov. 18, 1957, and the sunset of her life was April 13, 2023.  Debra Gail Carter Rachal was the fourth child of eight children. She has exchanged time for eternity by divine order and call of God.  Debra was reared in a loving home.  Taught God’s word and she accepted Christianity at a young age at Starlight Baptist Church under the Pastorship of Revenue David Miles.  Debra education was secured in the public school system of Calcasieu Parish in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  She was Salutatorian of her graduating class (1975).  She received her high school diploma from W. O. Boston High School, home of the Panthers in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Debra married Joseph V. Rachal Jr. 1975 to her sweetheart.  They traveled and lived in Oceanside, Calif., Camp Pennington Marine Base. She worked as a tutor with her gifts to educating individuals in G.E.D program, Early Elementary, Middle and High School.  She also volunteered on weekends at the library as a genealogy specialist.

Debra leaves to cherish her memories, her son, Paul C. Mason of San Diego, Calif., two aunts, Virginia Carter Riggs, Josephine Bennett, both of Lake Charles, La.; sisters, Cherlyn Carter Martin (Eddie) of Baton Rouge, La., Cynthia Carter Brown (James) of Lake Charles, La.; brothers, Huey P. Carter Jr. (Marilyn) of Lake Charles, La., Mark Carter of Baton Rouge, La.; and two sisters-in-law, Bertha Poullard, Veronica Darbonne of Lake Charles, La.; host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Huey P Carter Sr. and Luelaina Guillory Carter; maternal grandparents, Bertha Washington Guillory, and Zechariah (Jeff) Guillory; paternal grandparents, Geneva Powell Carter Daniels, Kelly Carter; siblings, Patricia Carter Young-Brown, James Nathan Carter, Eric Kelly Carter and James Poullard. 

Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 12 p.m. at Wayside Christian Fellowship COGIC located at 201 Sharron Ave., Baker, LA 70714.  Officiating Service will be Elder Ezra Shannon.