Ms. Debbie Phelps Allen, age 49, a resident of 331 Bright Acres Road, Washington, N.C., and a previous resident of 166 Edgewater Road, Washington, N.C., passed away Thursday, July 21, 2011, at her residence. A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2011, in the chapel of Hillside Funeral Service and Cremations with the Rev. Danny Robertson officiating, and music provided by Roy Lewis.

The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday evening, July 23, 2011, at Hillside Funeral Service and Cremations, and other times at the home, 331 Bright Acres Road, Washington, and also at her mother’s home at 1041 Spruill Town Road, in Creswell, N.C.

Debbie was born on Feb. 15, 1962, in Columbia N.C., to Wanda Brickhouse Phelps and the late James Mitchell Phelps. She graduated from Creswell High School in 1980 and Beaufort County Community College with a degree in Cosmetology. Debbie was a real estate broker with Century 21, The Realty Group, for the past five years, and was a member of the Realtors Association. Debbie was an avid horse and animal lover, who enjoyed showing, riding, and giving her time and support to the United States Equine Rescue League. She owned and operated The Angels on Horseback, a non-profit therapeutic horseback riding group for handicapped children. She enjoyed breeding dogs, gardening, cooking, and worked toward mastering any task that she was involved in. She was a certified home stager, and attended River City Christian Church. Debbie was most at home and at peace when she was on or near the water.

Survivors include the love of her life, Brad Shackleford, his daughter Kirsten Shackelford of the home, and his son Wyatt Shackelford of Washington and Kill Devil Hills, N.C., her stepdaughter Summer Allen of Washington, her mother Wanda Brickhouse Phelps of Creswell, N.C., four sisters, Nancy Phelps Hill of Hillsborough, N.C., Rachel DeeAnn Phelps and Wanda Phelps Clifton, both of Roper, N.C., and Diniah Phelps Grant, of Poquoson, Va.; three brothers, James Kevin Phelps and Bobby Mitchell Phelps, both of Creswell, N.C., and Jerry Wayne Phelps of Jacksonville, N.C.; also six nephews and seven nieces survive her.

She was predeceased by maternal grandparents, the late Kenneth Odell Brickhouse and Learolean Sawyer Brickhouse, and paternal grandparents, James Kelly Phelps and Bessie Snell Phelps.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Marion L. Shepherd Cancer Center, 1209 Brown St., Washington, NC 27889.

Online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.hillsidefuneralservice.com.

Hillside Funeral Service & Cremations, 4500 U.S. Highway 264 East, Washington, NC, 252-975-4500 has been given the honor of being entrusted with serving the Allen and Shackelford families.