Debbie Jefcoat is an honorary chairperson for this year’s Jasper County Relay For Life. She is a retired educator and lives in Bay Springs with her husband, Craig, and her mother, Ardis Gardner. She is the mother of Kristi and Karen and stepmother of Stephanie. She has a grandson, Reece, and another grandchild due in late October. She attends Bay Springs Baptist Church where she is a Sunday school teacher and sings in the choir.

Jefcoat said, “When asked to be honorary chairperson for Relay For Life, I began to think about that June day in 2000 that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Scared, confused, and full of questions, I began to do some research on the computer and read everything I could about it. I learned so much from the American Cancer Society and now I am trying to pay back just a little of the comfort I found in having some knowledge about breast cancer by participating in Relay For Life. I am on the “Think Pink” committee for breast cancer, the Jasper County Relay committee in which I am publicity chairperson, and the Bay Springs Baptist Church Relay team in which I am chairperson. We are all trying to raise money for cancer research and education.

“Just recently, I lost my son-in-law to kidney cancer. His type was genetically passed on to him and the thought of my three year old grandson also having cancer is just too much. I want to see a cure for cancer for him and thousands of others who will be diagnosed with cancer. I want to challenge all of you to get involved and give what you can.”