Debra Hester

“Show yourself and others more empathy than sympathy. Grief and healing are journeys we all will take.”

This guiding belief anchors the work of Debra Hester, author, poet, and creator of the My Backyard Garden series—a multi-genre collection designed to support healing, emotional wellness, and personal growth through storytelling.

Through her platform #empathyforgrief and her podcast, Break the Silent Struggle with Grief, Debra creates safe, reflective spaces for individuals and families navigating grief, loss, and life transitions. Her work helps readers and listeners find language for difficult emotions and move forward with intention, grace, and resilience.

Her books—including My Backyard Garden: A Memoir of How Love Conquers Grief, Sage Can Never Age: Spirit-Filled Poems, Rhymes & Visuals, Look Up Mississippi: A Photographic Memoir, and My Backyard Garden: Silent Day, Flower Day—blend memoir, poetry, photography, and visual storytelling to offer a unique and compassionate approach to healing. Silent Day, Flower Day, the fourth book in the series, is her first children’s picture book and poem, extending her mission to support young readers and the adults who guide them.

In addition to her creative work, Debra is a social entrepreneur, speaker, and certified workshop facilitator who specializes in grief support, emotional intelligence, and life skills development. Her professional background spans more than 25 years in global human resources, talent development, and corporate communications—experience she now channels into helping others navigate both personal and professional transitions.

Professionally known as Mary D. HesterClifton, she serves as Director of Communications at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, where she advances literacy, strategic communication, and community engagement.

Debra holds a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership with a focus on student persistence, further deepening her commitment to helping individuals navigate growth, transition, and resilience. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC).

At the heart of her work is a simple but powerful mission: to inspire, inform, and transform—helping others move beyond the silent struggle of grief toward healing and renewal.

🌿 Because even in silent seasons… healing blooms.