Mrs. Debra Jean Broadnax Williams

Debra Jean Broadnax Williams, a loving mother of two, passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at the age of 70, following a courageous battle with lung cancer.
Debra was born in Albuquerque New Mexico, on June 22, 1953, the oldest of three children of the late Erma "Nolly" Broadnax and Bishop Broadnax. Her father was in the military and stationed at numerous locations, finally retiring after 20 years of service. The Broadnax family moved to Philadelphia PA where she spent most of her adolescent years and most of her young adult life. In 1971 she graduated from Germantown High School, where she began her career working for the city of Philadelphia at the Office of Housing and Community Development. After many years of working a full-time job, in conjunction with night college courses, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree from Columbia State University, in Business Management, in 1999. While being a dedicated military wife for over 30 years, she managed multiple careers, which range from an Investment Loan Officer, an Administrator at the State Board Medical Examiner's Office, Substitute Teaching, and finally Retiring as a military contractor as a Senior Credentialing Specialist with the Army Reserve Professional Management Command (APMC). In her spare time, she sold Real Estate as an Independent Contractor. As Debra wore many hats, she still managed to raise two small kids and made a joyous life for herself and husband. Debbie was relentless!
Debbie, as she was affectionately called, met the love of her life, Jesse J Williams in 1986 at her favorite social gathering in Willow Grove, PA. They both fell madly in love after a two-year courtship and united in holy matrimony June 3, 1989, and shortly after moved to Fort Rucker, AL where she started her life as a military spouse. In 1990 she became a new mother to Jesse J Williams III. Two years later she became a mother for the second time to Codie N Williams, which turns out they would be Best Friend Forever (BFF)!
At an early age, Debbie received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and was a long-time member of Zion Baptist Church for over 20 years. After settling down in Hampton GA she became a member of Community Bible Church in Stockbridge GA.
Debbie's life was a testament to what she cherished most – family, church, and friends. She had a passion for cooking for loved ones, an insatiable appetite for reading and entertaining guests at social gatherings, exercising in the park and listening to music. Nothing brought Debbie more joy than simply sitting on the back deck with a good novel watching a beautiful sunset while quietly sipping on a glass of wine and giving God thanks for her many blessings. She leaves a legacy of boundless faith and positivity and will be missed tremendously.
Debbie's family and friends will always fondly remember her passion for traveling, real estate entrepreneurship, mentoring, and her boundless love and support she had for her children, grandbaby and the many people who touched her life in her sisterhood network.
Above all else, family and friends were most important to Debbie. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved watching her children grow and was an integral part of their lives. Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, father Bishop and mother Erma, grandmother Volenteen Brown Green Westbrooks, her brother Michael Broadnax and nephew Justin Sawyer. Left to carry on her legacy is her devoted brother, Charles Broadnax, her children Jesse (Jay) J Williams III, Codie N Williams; her most cherished gift from God granddaughter Kari Williams; daughter in-law Shanaye Williams; her beloved husband Jesse J Williams Jr; her cousins, Harrison Peoples, Butch Broadnax, Chonda Watkins, Tina Green; her in laws mother Clara Williams and father Jesse J Williams Sr, two sisters-in-law Brenda Cotman and Darlene Williams; one brother-in-law Maurice T Williams; play sister and brother Carolyn & Wayne Jones, nephews, Michael Broadnax Jr, Charles Broadnax Jr, Rashard Rogers; two nieces Rasheda Rogers and India Sawyer; her two Best friends Terri Johnson and Patricia Bond and many other loving cousins; great nieces and nephews, cousins and distant family members and a boat load of loyal friends.