Deborha M. Haywood

Deborha M. Haywood, 69, a resident of Aurora, CO, passed away on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at her home. Deborha was born on June 28, 1954, in Fort Leonard Wood, MO. The eldest daughter of Johnny and Bernice (Clayborne) Wilkerson. Deborha graduated from St. Xavier High School in Junction City, Kansas. During high school she loved running track, attending sport activities, and focused on her classes.

In 1971 she met and married Lonnie Haywood, Jr. of Chicago, IL. He was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Their marriage ended in 1978. Andre Lamont Haywood was born from their union.

Deborha was a faithful civil servant working for several Colorado state agencies before finding her life's work by entering the field of early childhood education. She loved working with young children. She got her first taste of working with children at Kiddie CAT Day Care, then CHANGE Christian Academy and most recently by serving children at Academy 360. Her eyes sparkled, every August as she shopped and prepared her classroom to receive her students.

She answered the call to serve the Lord in her mid-thirties by studying for the ministry under the teaching of Pastor Madlyn Tombs. Daily she would travel to the church New Life Christian Center (NLCC), formerly First Christian Assembly of God Church in Montbello to spend time praying. She was known as an intercessor, a faithful prayer warrior. Her relationship and service to the Lord grew from her formative years of making her first Holy Communion, at St. John's Church, her Confirmation. She continued to seek the Lord and began to study for the ministry and was licensed and then ordained by the Assemblies of God denomination. She loved reading the word and was always listening to praise music.

In 1999, Deb earned a certificate of Paralegal and an Associate Degree of Applied Science Paralegal from the Community College of Denver. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management in 2003 from Colorado Christian University and nearly completed a master's degree in counseling. In 2011, she received her director certification in Early Childhood Education. In 2015 she earned certification to serve as a Substitute Teacher for K-12. Wherever God led her, she would follow.

Deborha spent the last several weeks setting up a new prayer room in her home. The two bookcases contained bibles, books about the bible, a picture of her son, family members and mementos from her students.

Deborha was a blessing to all those who encountered her. She was an awesome mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, sister, a loyal friend, employee, and a faithful servant.

She will be sadly missed and forever remembered by her son, Andre Lamont Haywood, and wife Cayce, of Aurora, her sisters Sharen Wilkerson (Ford) of Aurora, CO, Konnie Wilkerson of Denver, CO, Gwendolyn Wilkerson (Wooten) and husband Elton of Aurora, CO, Madlyn Tombs of Centennial, CO, and brother Anthony Wilkerson of Aurora, CO.

Four grandchildren – Jonathan Haywood, currently serving in the Navy, Ebonie Haywood (Wallace) of Stone Mountain, GA, Alex Haywood of Stone Mountain, GA, Yazmine MacNeal of Aurora, CO; three greatgrandchildren – Tristin, Trinity Wallace and Sophia Haywood and a host of nieces and nephews and special loved ones.

Deborha was preceded in death by her parents Johnny and Bernice Wilkerson.