Debra L. Swope

Deacon Debra L Swope of Princeton, Indiana passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at Deaconess Gateway Hospital in Newburgh, IN.  She was born on January 20, 1955, in Evansville, IN to Virginia (Mayes) Stewart and George L. Swope.  Debra graduated from Princeton Community High School in 1974.  She continued her education on a basketball scholarship at Vincennes University and St. Joseph College.  Debra completed her bachelor’s and master’s degree work at Oakland City University.

Debra was a member of the St. Paul M.B. Church of Princeton and served in the Junior Choir. Her high school years proved her ability to achieve academically and sports.  Later, after moving to Newark, New Jersey, she was a founding member of Liberation in Truth Church.   Throughout her life she was found in the music ministry holding up the tenor section in several choirs and ensembles in Newark.

Deacon Swope’s early years as an adult sharpened her skills to encourage and mentor the youth, especially her cousins. Debra was gifted by the Holy Spirit to be A strong shepherd of those who were disenfranchised by society, working as a substance abuse counselor, and probation officer.  Her gift was acknowledged by her local congregation and was elevated to the position of church deacon.  Her adult life was one witness of the Lord Jesus Christ to the marginalized.

Deacon Debra was preceded in death by her parents, sisters and brothers-in-law; Mary (Howard) Hardiman, Gloria (William) Portee; foster mother, Flossie Berry; and stepfather, Walter Stewart.

She is survived by her son, Jabbar Green of Boston, New Jersey; Cousin, Carol McGuire of Jeffersonville, IN; special nieces, Angela Hester (Reginal) Smith of Nashville, TN, Elizabeth (Perry) Jenkins, Valgenia McCray, Ronetta Wright, all of Princeton, IN and Naomi Splitorff of Evansville, IN; and by a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; and sister-friends, Karen Hardiman Ragland and Claudette Greer Cook.

The service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Colvin Funeral Home in Princeton, followed by interment at Sand Hill Cemetery near Lyles Station.  Visiting hours will be held from 12:00 PM until the service time Saturday at the funeral home. 

Online condolences can be given at ColvinFuneralHome.com where you can share a memory of Debra.  Colvin Funeral Home is honored to serve the Swope family. 

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