Debbie originally hails from Vereeniging Baptist Church. In 1998 she joined the WOW Team, ministering around the country.

From there she moved to London but returned in 2001 to do a youth worker’s course with the Baptist Youth of South Africa. She joined the Howick Community in March 2001 as the 1-2-1 worker until the end of 2003.

In 2004 Debbie became a secretary at the church alongside Brenda Strang. During her time here, she met her husband Christopher Checkley and has two sons, Darryn and Tyler.