In Memoriam: Deborah Ann Light (1935-2015)

REMEMBERING Deborah Ann Light

Deborah Ann Light died in the early hours of Tuesday, July 21, 2015.  She was a Hedgewitch, feminist, environmentalist, philanthropist, and Pagan elder active in national and interfaith work. 

Deborah was born on June 5, 1935 in London, England to American parents.  She was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, and later made her home on the East End of Long Island, New York.  During the last part of her life, she lived in Gainesville, Florida and spent time at Crones Cradle Conserve, a feminist Nature preserve and organic farm she helped found with her beloved spouse and partner Jeri Baldwin in the 1980s in nearby Citra, Florida.

A series of memorials are being held to remember, honor, and celebrate Deborah and her life.

On Saturday, August 29, 2015, a memorial and reception was held at Crone's Cradle Conserve.  Jeri Baldwin facilitated the memorial, which included remarks & selected poems, music, & interfaith prayers.

A public memorial for Deborah was held at 4 pm on Saturday, September 19, 2015 at Quail Hill Farm, Amagansett, Long Island, New York.  Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary conducted the ceremony written by Deborah. The ceremony will be followed by a reception.

A memorial for Deborah was also be held at Circle Sanctuary Nature Preserve near Barneveld, Wisconsin as part of the Samhain Festival, October 30-November 1, 2015.  Selena Fox conducted the ceremony at Circle Cemetery, which included interment of some of Deborah's cremains and dedication of a memorial stone.

Obituary Press Release

Remembrance in The Wild Hunt

Obituary in East Hampton Star 

Obituary in Newsday

In 1985, Deborah received a Master's in Religious Studies from Norwich University in Vermont.  Her thesis was one of the first in the emerging field of Pagan Studies to examine contemporary Goddess Spirituality in the United States.

Deborah supported a variety of feminist, environmental, Pagan and other organizations, projects and endeavors over the years.  She was founder and executive director of the Thanks Be to Grandmother Winifred Foundation, which for nine years funded projects by older women that benefited women.

Deborah was a longtime member and benefactor of Circle Sanctuary, its Nature Preserve, its cemetery, and other work.  She was part of the Pagan Spirit Gathering in its developing years and was among the founding supporters of the Lady Liberty League, which works for Pagan civil rights and religious freedom in the United States and internationally.

Deborah also supported a variety of other Pagan organizations and endeavors, including Covenant of the Goddess, Earth Spirit Community, Reclaiming, Ardantane, and others.

Representing Circle Sanctuary, Earth Spirit Community, and Covenant of the Goddess, Deborah was the first Wiccan leader to serve on the Assembly of Religious and Spiritual Leaders associated with the centennial Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1993 in Chicago.  She also served on the Assembly at the 1999 Parliament of the World’s Religions in Cape Town, South Africa. 

Deborah is beloved and missed by many across the nation and around the world.  She is survived by her partner Jeri and by her son, Michael, from her first marriage. 

Along with others in the Circle Sanctuary Community, I am thankful for her friendship, wisdom, intelligence, grace, strength, and dedication to helping others.  May we take comfort in knowing that she lives on in the lives and endeavors of many individuals and groups that she inspired and supported.  

Deborah, we remember you, we honor you, we celebrate you.  

Blessed Be,
Selena Fox & Circle Sanctuary Community

Memorial Remembrances

Name Rev. Selena Fox Location Circle Sanctuary near Barneveld, Wisconsin Relationship to Deborah Long-time friend Date 2015-07-22 10:31:09	Thanks, Deborah, for your friendship, for the good times we have shared over the years, for your love of Nature, for your many contributions to Paganism, Feminism, Interfaith & Social Justice, for your teachings about life & death passages -- and for helping to make this world a better place. Much Love. Selena
Name Annette Fontana Location Long Island New York Relationship to Deborah One of her many Admirers Date 2015-07-22 13:47:03	My My deepest sympathies and Blessings of Love go to her family and the Circle Sanctuary community. This is a great loss. Brightest blessings as she begins her journey
Name Autumn Night Location Georgia Relationship to Deborah None Date 2015-07-22 14:43:35	I didn't know Deborah Ann Light, but I sure do wish I had the chance. She seems to have been a remarkable lady. I send positive vibes to her family and friends. Blessed Be <3
Name Nicholas Sea Location Hopkinsville, Kentucky Relationship to Deborah Friend Date 2015-07-22 18:34:56	Deborah was a beacon for me these past 22 years; could it be that I met her at an early PSG, years earlier? What is an elder? What are we here for? How can we serve? For me, life serves up what it will. Elders do what they can to clear a path down which others can walk, a little easier, a little further. Our lives are a collaborative endeavor. We can take an interest in one another. We can hold doors open for one another. We can remember and share who cleared a bit of the path before us, and held a door or two open for us. The roads are blazed by our hearts and minds. Illumination that lights the way. The Tibetans call their teachers and leaders Rinpoche, which means Precious One or Precious Jewel. Deborah Ann Light Rinpoche, Precious One, may you find a favorable incarnation for your next life, full love and opportunity.
Name Nyx Location Darien, IL Relationship to Deborah Ardent admirer Date 2015-07-22 22:02:44	What a majestic and magickal woman! While I only spoke with her briefly once at a Circle festival, I had become familiar with her name a few years prior at the 1993 Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago. I will always remember what a powerful presence she cast during the plenary sessions there! Her participation in constructing the final draft of the Declaration Towards a Global Ethic at the event was ground breaking, closely followed by her being one of the luminary signers of the document. How synchronous that her name was Light! Thank you, Deborah Ann, for your commitments and hard work. Deep Peace.
Name Naomi Dagen Bloom Location Portland, Oregon Relationship to Deborah Thanks Be to Grandmother Winifred gave me a grant for installation "This Dirt Museum: the ladies room," Queens Botanical, kitchen composting awareness Date 2015-07-23 00:22:51	Such a special sensitivity emanating from Deborah. When I was almost 70, she responded to my late life urge to make art that would would raise consciousness of New Yorkers about kitchen composting. Think her sense of humor was particularly amused by "Free Lunch--you may qualify." I'd take women (over 50) to lunch at a Manhattan restaurant. They had to agree to wear a knit red worm from my collection while we talked about red wiggler worms nesting in world's smallest composter. http://www.cityworm.com/dirtmuseum2.htm Couple years later I noticed one other woman doing handwork (I was knitting) during a session at statewide NOW meeting. Deborah! Wonderful to have the chance to thank her in person as she embroidered. Or maybe it was needlepoint. Such a vision and generosity she shared with so many of us old ladies.
Name Alistair Brown Location Nth Ireland Relationship to Deborah none other than belief in the same Path Date 2015-07-23 06:22:50	In Love & Remembrance & Celebration of a Great Lady who lived for the Greater Good of this Earth & those of us upon it. May she be Blessed on her Final Journey. So mote it Be!
Name louise gunn Location adelaide Relationship to Deborah Date 2015-07-23 06:51:12	where ever you may be ...shining through the stars ....dancing around the moon ....running through the forest ....you will never be forgotten ....
Name shan chaney Location Florida Relationship to Deborah one of many admirers Date 2015-07-23 13:55:34	Run naked in the rain ...........
Name Michael York Location Amsterdam Relationship to Deborah friend Date 2015-07-24 06:04:49	Deborah for me has been one of the most elegant and inspiring people I have known. She was pure class and always enjoyable and fun to be with. I will never forget this lovely lady and her lovely smile when she came up to me at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 1993 and first introduced herself to me. Certainly one of a kind and even more certainly someone very much to be missed.
Name Tim Light Location Kalamazoo, MI Relationship to Deborah First Cousin Date 2015-07-26 10:32:49	All of the messages about Deborah in various places reflect my own thoughts. She was a wonderful woman, compassionate, humorous, lively, engaged, and, until the very last years, energetic way beyond her age. She leaves a big empty space in the lives of those who knew her, but all who did surely feel enriched by having known such a benevolent force and presence.
Name eithne thornton (nee Slater) Location Wales, United Kingdom Relationship to Deborah family friend from years ago Date 2015-08-02 05:30:23	Deborah's parents and mine were great friends, starting when the young Lights came to Oxford before Deborah was born. The friendship and mutual support continued until their deaths. Deborah and my sister Margaret were almost exact contemporaries and did the early part of their growing up together. We have lots of reminiscences about the family and their generosity, Deborah's in particular. Margaret and I feel great regret that we weren't in recent touch with Deborah as she has so often been in our thoughts.
Name Deanna Carvana Location United States Relationship to Deborah goddess Date 2015-10-28 17:16:34	She will be missed dearly .