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Deborah Inez Hall-Burns was born May 18, 1949, to the late Deacon William A. Hall, Sr., and Deaconess Margaret Inez Hall in Charleston, West Virginia. Deborah relocated to New York City at the age of 12 with her family, where she attended Stitt Junior High School and George Washington High School. Deborah was an avid reader of The New York Times and enjoyed world news. During her childhood, she was nicknamed “Pie Face” because she had a big, beautiful, round face and smile. Deborah was always a Leader and Protector of her sisters and brothers, especially her older sister Diane. During her teen years, she was a member of The La Rocque Bey School of Dance Theatre Inc. in Harlem, NY. She loved to dance for her family and friends, especially street dancing in her African attire. Deborah was briefly employed with the United States Postal Service and was a home health care attendant in New York City, Connecticut, and North Carolina (Quality Home Care). All of her patients and employers loved her. Deborah was baptized in 1962 at the Washington Heights Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. David Hunt. She attended Sunday school and sang in the choir under the direction of the late Mrs. Lillian Mayweather. Deborah was also trained to play the piano and was a praise dancer. Deborah married her best friend, Gregory Burns, on March 6, 2012, and relocated to Williamston, NC, where she attended Little Thankful Church and enjoyed country life with her new friends and family. She enjoyed helping others, completing crossword puzzles, watching Lifetime, and Law & Order, but most of all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. Deborah loved her daughter Dionne, grandchildren, and family and was very proud of all of their accomplishments, especially when her grandson DJ graduated from college. Deborah would always say ”I love you” after every phone call. Deborah will forever be in our hearts; we love and miss you… She was preceded in death by her two brothers, William A. Hall, Jr., and David Maurice Hall, niece, Deasha Shante Hall, and grandson, Jah-Quelle Donelle Watson. Deborah will be missed by her husband, Gregory Burns, Williamston, NC; daughter, Dionne (Jermaine), Bronx, NY; grandson, Donelle “DJ”, Bronx, NY; great-granddaughters, Jahnel, Jahnae and Jahniya, Bronx, NY; sisters, La-Nita Boston (Harry) Groveland, FL, Darrell Brown (Alfred) Oakland, CA, Donna Mitchell (Andre) Bronx, NY, Deidra Jenkins (Ernest) Milford, DE, Denise Hall, Oakland, CA,; brother, Curtis Hall (Davine), Oakland, CA; sisters in love, Kessha Burns, Atlanta, GA, and Nalalia Burns, Charlotte, NC, Patricia Causey, Bronx, NY and Barbara Hall, Atlanta, GA; two brothers in love, Vincent Burns, Williamston, NC, and Kevin Burns, Bronx, NY, along with a host of nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends.

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Mrs. Deborah Burns

May 18, 1949 - May 8, 2026