Debra Mosby

Obituary For Debra Mosby

Debra Nell Mosby (née Rogers) entered this life on July 14, 1954, as the firstborn child of the late Jackie Ray and Nellie Pearl Rogers. Immediately, she received all the adoration a firstborn is due, and was lavished with love by grandmothers and aunts. As she grew, she prided herself on being the eldest sibling - helping, guiding, and taking care of the younger ones. She could easily give details about shepherding her siblings - walking to school, riding bikes, playing dolls, doing her youngest sister's hair, or how the family mistakenly left her first little brother behind in the house. Still, she wanted her own family. In fact, this was all excellent training for her greatest aspiration - to be a mother. A dream she realized when she married Willie B. Mosby, Jr. on December 22, 1973, and welcomed four children into their lives, Christopher (Angela), Willie B. III, Letitia (Gene), and Timothy Jared “T.J.”

Debra enjoyed the things of God. She was baptized at South Parkway Church of Christ in 1967. She read and studied her bible daily and led her family to Christ. She eagerly looked forward to bible class and worship (and would sometimes offer her two cents.) Debra was a member at West Shelby Drive/Boulevard Church of Christ for more than thirty years, before placing membership at Cordova Church of Christ near her most recent home.

Debra delighted in people and service! Doctors and nurses would marvel at her quick wit and infectious smile. Members at church would fondly recount the nicknames she gave them. She and her best friend, Janie, would talk every day. She would discuss life with her son, Willie. Not a day went by that she didn't call her mother or grandchildren, Chandler, Caitlyn, Joshua, and Jael. Debra knew that relationships were sustained by love and communication (no matter the hour). She also took pleasure in Wheel of Fortune, soap operas, writing poetry, coloring, cooking, shopping and purses.

Debra was a wonderful woman - beautiful and kind, smart and loving, strong and courageous. She experienced health challenges early on and successfully battled breast cancer in 2022. After each trial and each difficulty, she became stronger for the next battle. Even as she lay in the hospital bed, her concern was for the person beside her or the person on the other end of the phone. However, God had a greater concern for her, and decided she did not need to fight anymore. He called her off the battlefield and into eternal rest.

As her husband, mother, children, and grandchildren mourn their loss, she also leaves behind her siblings, Jacqueline (Robert) Mosby, Lillian (Alan) Gould, Brenda (Charles) Johnson, Charlotte Crowder, Stephanie Wright, Paul (Linda) Rogers, Melanie Rogers, and Jackie Ray (Anne) Rogers; and a host of her beloved in-laws, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and church family.

The family will receive friends Saturday, April 12, 2024 from 12:30pm-1:00pm with a Celebration of Life to follow at 1:00pm both will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119

Internment will be immediately following in Memorial Park Cemetery 5668 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38119