Elder Deborah Gilcreast Transitioned on April 11, 2025. She was born in Newport News, Virginia on May 31, 1950, and raised in Hampton Virginia. She was the eldest child and first daughter of the late Fulton and Carrie Leggette. Deborah received her primary and secondary education in the Hampton Public School System as well as graduating from Phoenix High School in 1968. She continued her education while attending Norfolk State University, Majoring in Business Administration. Deborah was a Godly Family Woman. She was the wife of Elder Ernest J. Gilcreast, the mother of two children: Ms. Denna Marshay Williams and Mr. Rodney Gilcreast. She is the grandmother of 4 granddaughters, 1 grandson, and 3 great grandchildren. Deborah's previous employment career was in retail for 25+ years where she performed as Sales Consultant and Retail Manager. For more than 25+ years, Deborah shared her gift through ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ and encouraging the Saints of GOD. Deborah served and was Licensed as an Exhorter in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church to preach the Gospel. For a period of time Deborah changed her church affiliation to Ransom for Souls Church where she sat under Apostle Wilhelminia Sears Cherry where she received both ordinations as Elder and Pastor.

Deborah is survived by her loving husband Elder Ernest J. Gilcreast, daughter-Ms. Denna Marshay Williams, son-Mr. Rodney Larmont Gilcreast, grandchildren: Mrs. Christina McDonald (Devin), Ms. Michelle Williams, Ms. Timesha Williams, Mrs. Destiny Williams-Pipito (Stefano), Rodney Gilcreast Jr, great grandchildren: Kayla, Zoey and Calvin, siblings-Mrs. Nancy Doswell (Leroy), Ms. Clara Hassan, and Mr. Gmal Hassan, mother in-law, Patricia Dampier (Nathaniel), sisters-in-law, Natalie Dampier, Deborah Gilreath (Kenneth), Patrice Martin (Lorenzo), brothers-in-laws, Byron Knight (Frances), Nathan Knight. Ronald Joyner, Gregory Gross (Jewel) and George Wiley as well as her many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Parents- the late Fulton and Carrie Legette, and Claretta Hassan (late maternal mother) and father-in-law, the late Ernest Gilcreast Sr, preceded her in death.

A funeral service will be held 1:00 pm on Monday, May 5, 2025, at St. Thomas AME Zion Church, 1700 Melon St, Norfolk, VA 23523. Interment will follow at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, Suffolk. The viewing will be held from 3pm until 5pm on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, 500 Liberty Street, Chesapeake, VA 23324.

You can join the service livestream at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 5, 2025, at: https://www.facebook.com/PretlowandSons