Ms. Rebecca Veronica Harter

Rebecca Veronica Harter was born on Friday, August 13, 1948, in Lakeland, Florida to the late Clarence L. and Alice E. Harter. Rebecca was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and underwent multiple surgeries which helped her with mobility and limited her mobility. She attended Washington Park Elementary School (now Rochelle). Her mother, Alice Harter made sure she had an opportunity to get an education just like all the other children. She went throughout the area to find students with disabilities for her Becca. Rebecca was then able to attend until 8th grade. Her family church was Bethel AME, although there were multiple stairs her family walked her up the stairs so she could also participate. Her term of endearment for her mother was Mother Dear. Mother Dear was not satisfied with the 8th grade for Rebecca and began meeting with local leaders to develop what was called the Central Florida Sheltered Worship for handicap located in her home town Lakeland, Florida. Mother Dear met with local parents and built a relationship with a woman named Shirley Balough, who made sure developmentally disabled young people all over the area had a place to work, and build relationships with others. Rebecca enjoyed singing in the choir and her niece would join them from time to time. She also loved participating in the Special Olympics where she won several ribbons and bowling was her specialty. Rebecca gave her life to the Lord at an early age. Her relationship grew in the Lord after her mother and father passed away and she moved with her sister Jewell and her niece Vanessa in Oxon Hill, Maryland the summer of 1997 and joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Northwest DC. One year later her family grew and her niece married Clifton Hall in 1998. During that time Rebecca attended Helping Hands, Crescent Ridge, and We Care Adult Day Care Centers during the day. Fast forward to 2006 where she was able to become her own guardian under DDA (Developmental Disabilities Association). Through this program she was able to stay with her family and hire her staff and accounting firm. This is when she met her lifelong friends, caregivers, and delegating nurse Brenda Fitzgerald, Shanea Johnson, Kia Jacobs, Britanny Dorsey, Wendy Lancaster, her newest member Janay Woods along with her nieces Vanessa and Alexis. God truly blessed Rebecca with Crystal and Karen who made sure her money was right. Her fondest memories go back to Southwinds where she attended church under Pastor Linda Newman, Passion of Christ Ministries and enjoyed spending time with her movie night buddies and loving neighbors. Her love for Christ and maturity came through Walls for Christ Ministries, where she joined, and grew with her family under the leadership of Pastor and Minister Charles F. Walls. Only the Lord knew what was ahead for her, but He kept her through it all. In the summer of 2024 Rebecca was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor where she underwent brain surgery July 3, 2024.Throughout this devastating diagnosis she remained positive and loving, without any complaints until her last breath.

Ms. Rebecca Veronica Harter

August 13, 1948 - December 8, 2024