Deberry, having successfully completed two terms as District Attorney in Durham, North Carolina, has garnered notable accolades, including the 2020 Defender of Justice Award for Litigation from the North Carolina Justice Center, the 2020 Charles S. Murphy Award for Civic Service from the Duke Law Alumni Association, and the Dogwood Award from Attorney General Josh Stein. Her educational background comprises an AB in Sociology from Princeton University, a Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law, and a master’s in Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.
Beyond her professional achievements, Deberry is a devoted mother who cherishes moments spent with her adult daughters. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to dismantling restrictive systems that impact the lives of marginalized groups, including poor individuals, families, and communities of color. Deberry brings a wealth of experience to the role of District Attorney, having served as a criminal defense attorney in her hometown of Hamlet, North Carolina, as General Counsel for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, and as the executive director of the nonprofit North Carolina Housing Coalition.