A steady force

School retiree, mother seen as hero to many

Deborah Justice is described as a steady, unwavering presence — someone who bosses wish employees were more like and whose family members couldn’t imagine life without. Justice, however, says she just did what anyone would do if they cared about their job or love their family.

She worked for Geneva County Schools’ nutrition program for 38 years, starting as a part-time cook before eventually becoming a cafeteria manager. Justice, who retired in 2025, worked at schools in Samson, Slocomb and Hartford. She always told the employees she supervised to treat the school cafeteria as if it was their own home.

“We had the honor of seeing them (the students) coming in for the first day scared to death and leaving, graduating from high school with so many dreams and hopes,” Justice says. “It’s just been an honor. I loved it.”

Justice was chosen as one of the 2026 Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass, receiving a $1,000 award in recognition. Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass is a partnership between Wiregrass Electric Cooperative and WTVY to honor people and organizations making their communities better places for everyone.

Geneva County Schools Superintendent Becky Birdsong, the former principal of Geneva County Elementary School, says Justice always put others first, whether it was students eating in her cafeteria or a family member at home.

“She is one of the hardest-working people I know and takes zero credit for anything,” Birdsong says. “She set the bar really high.”

A few years ago, Justice won a top food service award for the state from the National Childhood Nutrition Association. The career even took her to Washington, D.C., and the White House after Geneva County Elementary School won a HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award.

“I had so much joy doing all of this,” Justice says of her career.

And when her daughters, Shanna Adams and Lorin Gomez, both faced fights with cancer as adults, Justice supported and cared for them. Adams actually nominated her mother for the Silent Hero recognition. Adams and Gomez say their mother is the backbone of their family.

Of course, Justice doesn’t think being a loving mother makes her a hero. Rather, she says her daughters are her heroes.

“When you see your child struggle, you’re the one that’s supposed to fix the boo-boos and you’re the one that’s supposed to put the Band-Aid on it, and all you can do is be there,” Justice says. “You just want to take the pain away, but you can’t.”