Debbie O’Connor
Debbie O’Connor is a REALTOR who specializes in residential sales and relocation. She joined the team at Toles, Temple & Wright, Inc. in April 1991. She believes strongly in the importance of a narrow focus and specialty as a tri-county REALTOR so she can serve her clients best.
Debbie was born in Newport News, Va., to her father, a fellow native, and her mother, a Canadian immigrant from the province of New Brunswick. After growing up in the Old Dominion state, Debbie went on to attend and graduate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Hygiene in Philadelphia. She worked as a dental hygienist for four years both back in Virginia and later in Rome.
Debbie initially entered real estate because the profession afforded her the opportunity to be there for her children and have more flexibility as they were growing up. She quickly found out that her specific skillsets made her quite a fit to be a real estate agent. Debbie is highly skilled at asking the right questions when it comes to meeting customers where they are in the buying and selling process, so they find the house best suited to their needs.
She often finds herself on any and every side of the real estate process, even beyond standard buying and listing agreements. In addition to her work as an award-winning agent, Debbie has also been able to help families in a very different way – getting through the next phase of life as it relates to liquidating estates. In a variety of scenarios, she has been able to serve as unofficial counselor-mediator, helping loved ones associated with the estate to make peace with a new chapter in the lives of those left behind.
Debbie has two children: Craig, married to Lori, and Holly, who is married to John. She also has two grandchildren, Colton and Lindsey. Debbie was married to her late husband, Mike, a former vice president of sales at Southeastern Mills, for 15 years.
Outside of work, Debbie enjoys collecting folk art from all over the U.S., curating it specifically for her eclectic décor at home. She also enjoys traveling for pleasure and to learn about other communities and countries. Some of her favorite places include Thailand and Hawaii; as well as beach getaways to Hilton Head Island, S.C.