Deborah Kay Hamilton

Deborah Kay Whiteaker Hamilton, age 73, of Southaven, Mississippi, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, at Methodist Hospital in Olive Branch surrounded by her family. Born on July 4, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, Debbie was a strong and loving presence in the lives of her family and friends.
Debbie attended Hillcrest High School in Memphis, Tennessee. On June 4, 1968, she married the love of her life, Kenneth L. Hamilton. Together, they built a life filled with love and dedication, and co-owned two successful businesses, The Daily Planet and Home Maintenance Solutions. Debbie was a devoted mother to her daughter and a cherished grandmother. Her joy was multiplied with the arrival of her great grandchildren. Debbie was known for her strength and resilience, and her family looked to her for guidance and support. She held her family close to her heart and loved them deeply.
She is survived by her daughter, Tresa Parnell (Cody); her grandson, Joshua Parnell (Elizabeth); her great-grandchildren, Brooklyn and Kenneth Parnell; and her six brothers, Tom Whiteaker (Sallii), Leonard Whiteaker (Vicki), Jim Whiteaker (Brenda), Chris Whiteaker (Suzanne), Jeff Whiteaker (Jenea), and Mark Whiteaker (Kari). She also leaves behind a great family friend, Jennifer Wall, as well as a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Debbie was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Kenneth L. Hamilton; her father and mother, James Burton Whiteaker and Elizabeth Nell Stanley Whiteaker; and her sisters, Joan Baggett and Diane Stephenson (Danny).
Funeral services for Debbie will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at Forest Hill Home & Memorial Park - Midtown, located at 1661 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38106. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m., with the funeral service immediately following at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place at the cemetery following the service.
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