Selfless, Driven, and Humble, these are the words that co-workers, friends and family use to describe Mrs. Debbie Deal.

Born on September 4, 1974, in Brownwood, Texas, she grew up in a loving and close-knit family. Her childhood was filled with wonderful memories, particularly the weekends that were spent at her grandparents’ house. Those times were marked by learning how to cook various dishes from scratch, playing in the water, riding her bike, and truly embracing the joys of being a kid.

Mrs. Deal attended and graduated from the Brownwood ISD schools, graduating from high school in 1993. Her school years were memorable, especially being involved in sports. She played volleyball, basketball, and ran track throughout all four years, earning a spot on the varsity teams as a freshman and continuing to compete until graduation. As a youth she was honored to be crowned the first Miss Juneteenth and Miss Congeniality in 1990. She also competed in Midland, where once again she was awarded Miss Congeniality.

Debbie is married to the love of her life, Alfred Deal. The two have three children—Cameron, Stephanie, and Khyren—who she is incredibly proud of. Her mother, Madeline Bradley, and father, Michael Thomas, also reside in the community. She has 3 brothers, two that reside in Brownwood and one that resides in the Houston area.

At an early age, Debbie learned the importance of a good work ethic, something that would follow her to her current position. At the age of sixteen her first job was at Burger King. She was quickly promoted to shift manager within the same year. During high school, she also worked at Chick-fil-A and Arby’s, it was during these years where she gained valuable management experience.

Seeking a larger challenge, Debbie transitioned to retail, starting as a part-time employee in the deli at Walmart in April 1996. After five years, she was promoted to department manager and managed various areas of the store, including consumables and furniture. In 2003, She transferred to Walmart in Orange, Texas, as a housewares associate, and after a year, she joined the assistant manager program.

Debbie’s journey continued as she became an overnight assistant manager in Port Arthur, Texas, for the Wal-Mart company. However, after Hurricane Rita devastated the area, she relocated back to Brownwood, where she resumed her role as an assistant manager for 18 months. Because of her great work ethic she was promoted to co-manager, a position she held for nine years. Following a company restructuring, Debbie became a Store Lead, which is essentially training for a store manager role. In 2021, Debbie after successfully completing the training and operation of the store, was promoted to store manager, overseeing her first store in Lampasas, Texas, for two years.

Leading the way in Lampasas and being seen as a rising star in the eyes of corporate, Debbie was asked several times to fill in at other stores when needed and had the unique opportunity to represent her peers by meeting with Texas senators in Washington, D.C., to discuss bills beneficial to the company. Currently, Debbie serves as the store manager of the local Walmart in Brownwood, where she’s worked for 29 years as of April 2025. Her role has allowed her to build meaningful relationships with associates and customers, and she takes pride in contributing to the growth of individuals and organizations within the community.

Debbie is deeply passionate about giving back to the community. She has participated in various initiatives, including Toys for Kids, feeding the homeless, Empty Bowls, and Shop with a Hero, which bring immense joy to her, as she sees the smiles on families’ faces.

When asked about her journey through life, Debbie stated, my journey has been one of growth, resilience, and a commitment to serving others. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in my community and the lives of those around me.

Debbie is the epitome of giving of one’s self to that which is greater than one’s self. ROC applauds all the work Mrs. Debbie Deal has done and will do for our community.