Obit – Ms. Debi Williams
Ms. Debi Williams, a long-time resident of Goodlettsville, passed from this life into eternity at 3:25 p.m. Thursday afternoon, March 27, 2025 at the Pavilion Senior Living under the care of Gentiva Hospice of Livingston whose extraordinary team of professionals had been assisting the Pavilion’s wonderful staff with her care.
Funeral services were conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, March 30th from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home with her pastor, Eld. Kevin Graham and Eld. Shawn Shepherd officiating. A graveside service was conducted Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. at the Forest Lawn Cemetery on Dickerson Road in Nashville where she will be laid to rest beside her parents.
Born Deborah Sue Williams at the former Martha Gaston Hospital in Lebanon on October 1, 1947, she was the only child of Jack Edward and Robbie Sue Payne Williams. Both parents preceded her in death. Her father Jack was born on June 21, 1928 in the Difficult Community of Smith County and died on March 23, 2013 in Nashville at the age of 84. Her mother Robbie was born on January 11, 1930 in Smith County and died on December 25, 2009.
On her mother’s side of the family, Ms. Williams was the granddaughter of the late Z. Taylor Payne Sr. who died March 24, 1972 at the age of 80 and Gillie A. Matthews Payne who died April 22, 1986 at the age of 90. On her father’s side of the family, she was the granddaughter of the late Chester Clarence (C.C.) Williams who died September 26, 1985 at the age of 82 and Fannie Jewel Earps Williams who died October 13, 2000 at the age of 94.
Ms. Williams attended Smith County High School for 2 years before transferring to Maplewood High School where she graduated in 1965. Following graduation, she began employment in customer service at the Nashville Electric Service in September of 1965 and remained until her retirement in January of 2006.
She was saved at an early age and joined the Defeated Creek Missionary Baptist Church on September 23, 2000. On October 1, 2000 she was baptized in the waters of Defeated Creek by Eld. Floyd Wayne Ferguson.
Surviving are her cousin and caregiver, Roger L. (Don) Harbison and his wife Shirley of Kempville; and uncle, Bobby Wright Williams and wife Henrietta of the Difficult Community; several other cousins.
The family requests memorials to the Defeated Creek Missionary Baptist Church or the Jordan Hackett Foundation in Megan’s Memory.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
