Debra Smith-Watlington was born on St. Thomas,Virgin Islands.  She was educated in the public schools of St. Thomas,Virgin Islands.   Attorney Watlington is a graduate of the Class of 1976 of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. She was and still is the President of the Class of 1976.   

After graduation, Attorney Watlington matriculated to Michigan State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Urban and Metropolitan Studies in 1980. 

With an eye on the law, she became employed at the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands first as the representative for the Pre-Trial Intervention Program and was later promoted to be the first Program Coordinator of that Program.  
    In 1981, under the leadership of the Honorable Judge Verne A. Hodge, Attorney Watlington coordinated a diversionary program for youths, the first Summer Steel Band Program of the Superior Court, which has evolved into the prestigious Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra.  In 1985, Attorney Watlington earned her Juris Doctorate Degree from Howard University School of Law.  She returned to St. Thomas and after taking and passing the Virgin Islands’ Bar examination that same year, she was admitted to practice law in the Virgin Islands and before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  She has worked as a law clerk for the Presiding Judge of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands, Legal Counsel for the Virgin Islands Housing Authority, and subsequently promoted to Chief of Staff of that agency.  She currently serves as a Territorial Public Defender representing indigent persons who are charged with criminal offenses.

Attorney Watlington has served on various organizations which serve and support the children and families of the Virgin Islands.  She has been a member of the Advisory Council at the former Youth Multi-Service Center, served in various capacities on Parent Teachers Associations; she is a certified Housing Manager and a certified Mediator.   She has also held leadership positions, as a member of the United Way Board of Directors, and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Island’s “Our Children Now Task Force”.  She is currently in her first term as an elected member of the 16th Virgin Islands Board of Education, having taken office in January 2009.  She served as Secretary to the board in the first two years of her four year term; and later served as  the Chairperson of the15th Virgin Islands Board of Education. 

As fromer Chairperson of the Board, Attorney Watlington also serves as a member of the University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees and a member of the board of the Virgin Islands Public Television System (WTJX).  Attorney Watlington was also recently appointed by her peers to serve on the board of the University of the Virgin Islands Research & Technology Park.  She hopes that she can help to provide meaningful educational and employment opportunities for young people in our communities.