Deborah James Obituary

Deborah Williams James, 70, of Amelia Island, Fla., passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Baptist Medical Center, Nassau County, Fla.
Born on August 1, 1954, in Topeka, Kansas, to the late Harry N. (Hank) and Joyce Farnell Williams, she grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated from Edward H. White High School. Her career started in the automobile industry at local dealerships, ultimately mastering bookkeeping and accounting. She worked at law firms Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones and Gay in Jacksonville, Florida, and Gomel Davis & Watson in Atlanta, Georgia. Debbie loved her work and especially loved the people she worked with, creating lifelong friendships.
Debbie was blessed with marriages to Alan Smith and Rick Anderson, but found her ultimate soulmate, Jerry James, whom she married in Maui, Hawaii, in 1999. Their greatest love together was shag dancing and traveling the world, including husband/wife golf trips throughout the Southeast. She also enjoyed shopping, going to the beach, attending concerts (backstage!), spoiling her cats Toby, Jilli and Sophie, doting on all her nieces and nephews, and she especially loved spending time with family and friends. And did we mention how much she enjoyed shopping (shoes!)!
Debbie and Jerry attended Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her younger brother, Ricky Williams of Tampa, Fla.
Debbie leaves behind her brother, Ken Williams (Guen) of St. Petersburg, Fla., and their three children; Grant (Rachel) and her great-niece and nephew, Nora and Gavin; Claire (Kevin Jordan) of Tampa, Fla.; and Burke of St. Petersburg, Fla.; her sister, Lyn Williams Sharpe (Paul Mee) of Amelia Island, Fla., and her two children; Zachary (Rachel) of Amelia Island, Fla., and her great-nephews, Brent and Collin; and Garrett (Gerrett Lewis) of Amelia Island, Fla.; Ricky's children, Justin (Ben), Brandy (Shandra), Kris (Jamie) and Richard Jr. of Lake City and children; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29, at 1 p.m. at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, Fernandina Beach, Fla.
Prior to the service, from 12:30 p.m. until 1 p.m., the family will receive family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie's memory to Cat's Angels, Amelia Island, Fla., or the Nassau Humane Society.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.