Deborah Kay Adams

Deborah Zehna Adams was born Deborah Smith to Lois Jean Pinson and Kenneth Lloyd Smith of McKenzie, TN. Deb took the name Zehna when she taught Yoga at Lotus in Bloom to help deepen the meaning of her and others lives. She is predeceased by both parents and a brother (Timothy Allen Smith). Deb is survived by her husband, Don, who is saddened by the sudden loss of his wife of 46 years, children: Keith Douglas (Tonya), Nolan Adams (Carmen) and Amy Adams (Leisa).

She lived in Ledbetter, KY, McKenzie, TN and Waverly, TN. Deb worked at Women Are Safe, in Waverly, TN, important work that came from personal experience. Deb was a strong woman, fighting until she found the love she deserved with Don.

Deb recently stated that one of the best things in life is a good sentence. "Oh, what the hell?" being a great example.

Deb felt that knowledge and the environment are two of the most important things in life. She pursued both of these especially in the last few years to help make herself a better person as well as help others to understand both of these.

Professionally, Deborah Z Adams received an Agatha Award nomination for Best First Novel for her debut book in her Jesus Creek mystery series (Ballantine Books, Silver Dagger Books). Her short story "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" won the Macavity Award and earned a second Agatha nomination.

Her poetry, CNF, short stories, and microfiction appeared in hundreds of journals, including Litmosphere, Susurrus, WELL READ Magazine, Adelaide Literary Review, Sheila-na-gig, Black Moon Magazine, Dead Mule, and a number of other journals.

Deb served as executive editor at Oconee Spirit Press, publishing both reprinted out of print books by popular authors, and new work. Deb gave back to the literary community by reading for Boomerlit Magazine, making sure to reply to each entry so that they would know their carefully crafted words hadn't fallen into the void.

Deborah was a member of the Poetry Society of Tennessee and a lifetime member of the Southern Literary Coalition. During her fifty year writing career, she was a guest speaker at dozens of events, including the Southern Festival of Books, Appalachian Studies Conference, the Warioto Regional Library Board of Trustees Conference, Southeastern Booksellers Association, Midwest Mystery Conference, Georgia Library Association Convention, Emory University, East Tennessee State University Writers Program and the Appalachian Writers Conference at Radford (VA) University.

The family thanks every caregiver, friends and family who supported us in this time.

A small celebration of her life will be held at Richlawn Cemetery in Waverly, TN, on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 10:00 AM.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, that Deb be remembered with a donation to Women Are Safe.