Deborah Ann James

James, Deborah Ann, of Auburn and Montgomery, went home to be with her Lord Jesus Thursday, April 11, 2024, in Montgomery.  Miss James was born October 22, 1957 in Auburn, Alabama.  Deborah’s life was a singularly extraordinary one.  At the young age of four, her life was touched by God’s “mighty Spirit,” and from that day forward, the hand of God in her life was clearly seen by all who came into contact with her.  Through school, junior college courses, and throughout her adult life beyond, she was an ambassador for Jesus Christ.  She prayed for countless people and saw God do great things in answer to her prayers.  She loved her Bible and underlined immense portions of it.  She walked faithfully to church prayer meetings, even at 6:00 a.m.  She wrote inspiring notes about the Lord, filled with Scripture, to encourage those about her.  She praised her Savior with music, often moved to tears.  She was unafraid to stand for God’s Word and truth wherever she discovered compromise.  She loved God’s people, seeing the beauty of God’s image in them and saying frequently, “You’re beautiful!”  Her smile and hug could instantly cheer and comfort the troubled heart.  No one who ever had an encounter with Debbie could ever forget it.  As she had been transformed by the Spirit of God, it was her desire that others would be changed also, and each life that she touched was touched by the Lord Himself. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (II Corinthians 4:6-7)  She graduated from Auburn High School and was voted Most School Spirit.  She was an active member of Lakeview Baptist in Auburn and Auburn United Methodist, and later Montgomery Christian Fellowship and then Frazer Methodist in Montgomery.

Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Lt. Col. Louie Webb James, her mother, Meriam Nobles James, and by her brother, Judge Drayton Nobles James (Billie), Birmingham.  She is survived by three sisters: Dorothy “Dottie” James Parker (Chief Justice Tom), Montgomery; Carolyn James Nelson (Howard) and his sister Carolyn McNeese, Birmingham; and Katherine James Parson (Dave), Atlanta, and other family members: Gov. Fob James (Bobbie); Robert E. James (deceased); Tim James (Angela); Fob James III (Beth); Patrick James (Shannon); Dora James (Cal, deceased); Sidney James Nakhajvan (Behzad); Calvin James (Ashley); Kathryn Aimee James Reese (Jeffrey); Linda Lee James Counts (Braxton); Braxton Counts (Toni); Ebb Counts (Chrissy); Ed James (Linda); and Susan James Anderson (John).

She is survived by her many nieces and nephews and their families: Tracy James Fitzpatrick (Bebo) and Will and Kate; James Westcott Samford (Abnous) and Cameron and Winn; Christopher Drake Samford (Shawna) and Mackenzie; Kristen Marie Parson Whitmire (Kirk) and Kaylen and Keira; Howard Bernard Nelson III (Jennifer) and Drew, Alex, and Carter; and Lewis Bentley Nelson (Kelly) and Lewie, Charlie and James.

A celebration of Deborah’s life will be held at Frazer Church (6000 Atlanta Highway) on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, with visitation at 11:00 a.m. and service at 12:00 p.m., noon, with Dr. John Ed Mathison officiating.  Her body will later be laid to rest at a private family graveside service in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse, designated for Israel (www.samaritanspurse.org, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607).