Lila Debra Stevenson Debra Stevenson is the youngest of eight children born to the late Willie Stevenson and Lila Kelly Stevenson. She grew up in a strict Christian household in Englishtown, NJ. Debra's relationship with God and service to God's people is most important to her. Debra taught Sunday school, served as the church secretary and presented weekly "children's object lessons" during the Sunday worship service. Education, teaching others and organizing community activities have always been a major part of her life! Debra developed her love of teaching at an early age and received her Bachelors degree in elementary education from Rutgers University in NJ. The New Brunswick Public School District hired her to teach first grade upon completion of her student teaching experience. She went on to attain her Masters degree and Principal's certification from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. During her 32 years working in that school district, Debra served as a classroom teacher, Supervisor of Humanities, Director of Whole School Reform and an assistant principal. While teaching, supervising afterschool activities and raising three busy young men, Debra served her community in many ways. She wrote a grant and founded the HELP Program, an afterschool tutorial program to support struggling students living in the low income housing project. The program grew to have three sites to assist minority students in the east Windsor and Plainsboro areas. The other community service program that Debra developed was "College Tours" to visit the HBCUs along the east coast. During "spring break" Debra and her co-founder Elaine Martin would take two busloads of high school students to visit historically Black colleges and universities. “The primary purpose was to expose our minority students to colleges that had administrators, professors and students that looked like them. I wanted them to know that there were schools where they could thrive and survive! I know that I made a difference in their lives!” Since moving to The Villages, Debra has made many friends, learned to play cards, improved her golf game and learned to enjoy all of life's many blessings. She is a proud mother of three adult sons and grandmother to six beautiful, smart and kind grandchildren! “God has truly blessed me!” Debra states “I'm proud of the work done in service to the members of The African American Club”. She initiated the Platinum brunch for our senior members, Juneteenth celebrations and reinstated the annual Veterans' Recognition Ceremony. “TAAC is a vital organization to members of The Villages community!”