Deborah Anne Pendergrass

Deborah Ann “Debbie” Pendergrass, age 73, was born September 30, 1951, to John William and Doris Frix Huey in Decatur, Georgia, and she passed away peacefully on March 26, 2025, at Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens, Georgia.

Born and raised near Atlanta, Georgia, Debbie graduated from Towers High School in 1969 where she was a member of the drill team. She later became a Delta flight attendant before getting married and moving to Tennessee to start a family. A devoted and supportive mother to her two sons, Debbie was known for being the fun-loving, welcoming, and endlessly supportive mom during her sons’ formative years. She had a special gift for making her children’s friends feel like family, opening her heart and being fiercely loyal to all who came in her door. She loved sports and was a supportive football coach’s wife for many years. She was the strength behind many games, practices, teams and staffs. She carted her young sons to many games, cooked meals at home to be shared as a family most nights and even welcomed a young assistant coach into their home at one time.

Her love of sports was matched only by her passion for gardening and animals, especially dogs, who had a special place in her heart. A natural caregiver, Debbie was quick to care for family, friends or a pet in need. She had a talent for interior decorating that was uniquely her own. She could transform any living space into a home; so much so that one of her homes in Vancouver, Washington, was featured on HGTV.

Debbie’s life journey took her from Georgia to various parts of Tennessee, Washington, Florida, and eventually back home to Georgia. She carried her values of Southern warmth, hospitality and fun wherever she lived. She is preceded in death by her parents, John William Huey and Doris Frix Huey.

She is survived by her sons, Brad (Laura) Pendergrass of Atlanta, Georgia, and Jeff (Mallory) Pendergrass of Huntingdon, Tennessee, sister, Sherry (Tim) Stevenson of Denver, Colorado, nieces, Victoria (John) Morlan of Winston Salem, North Carolina, and Shannon McAllister of Denver, Colorado, her aunt, Jeanie Bramlett of Bethlehem, Georgia, her companion of many years, Marion Prater of Carnesville, Georgia, and her beloved blue merle miniature schnauzer, Winnie.

There will be a private family ceremony held in her memory.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Humane Society in her memory at https://secure.humaneworld.org.