Debra J. Barnes

Debra J. Barnes left this Earth to be with our Heavenly Father on October 20, 2024.

Debra lived a life of love and support for her family and friends. She loved to plan trips and get everyone together to have fun and to "go and do!". Debra's love and support extended far beyond that; in that she lived to Serve as a nurse in the Medical Community. Debra graduated from the Baptist School of Nursing, Belmont University and upon her graduations quickly found her home for the next forty years with Hospital Wing Memphis, where she retired as Chief Flight Nurse overseeing a fleet of highly adept Nurses and Paramedics and a fleet of helicopter bases.

Her humility seldom allowed her to talk of her stature, for she had only one reason for fulfilling her assignment and that was to care for her patients. She touched countless patients and families in that capacity and most recently came out of retirement to, once again, show her compassion at Hamilton Eye Surgery Center. When not holding a patient's hand and secretly simultaneously checking their pulse, she loved to play golf and watch football. Just like her mother gone before her, she also had a love-hate relationship with basketball! Debra loved more than anything to stand in front of her grill while everyone around her was enjoying life with her.

Debra is preceded in her journey to Heaven by her mother and father Gladys and Clester Barnes, and her brother, Garry Barnes.
Left on this Earth with Heavy Hearts we are her Wife and Puppy, Gina Baptiste and Frankie Barnes, her Sister Shirley Broom (Steve), her sisters-n-law Terri Chustz (Brian), Amy Rutland (Billy), her nieces Waverly Rutland, Stevenie and Emily Pry, and her nephews Will Rutland (Sally), Wade Chustz, and Brett Chustz.

Immense gratitude is extended to her friends who never left her side, Angie, Jan, Tina, and Malena. To her nurses at Methodist University Hospital who showed all the respect and true skill as the center of her care, Melissa, Mignon, and Lindsey and to her beloved family for supporting and loving throughout this unimaginable time.

There are no words to describe the pain associated with our loss. Please remember Debra as you wish through donations to your heart felt mission. This was important to her in that all endeavors of love need our support.

Debra's visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the service time at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119.