Debra Starr Rodgers

Those were words Debra “Debbie” Starr Miracle chose for her Facebook profile, and perhaps few words could better describe the woman she was. Debbie was strong and determined, fiercely loyal, deeply compassionate, full of personality and laughter, and a fighter to the very end.

Debbie Starr, 64, of Columbus, Indiana, met her Savior face to face on September 17, 2026. She was born March 24, 1962, in Columbus to Troy “Jim” and Carol Miracle.

Debbie loved people, and people loved Deb. She was a natural people person who could strike up a conversation with almost anyone and, before long, make them feel as though they had known her forever. There was something about Deb that made people feel safe. People trusted her with pieces of their lives they often shared with no one else. She listened without judgment, loved deeply, and had an enormous heart for those who were hurting, struggling, or simply needed someone in their corner.

That heart was especially evident through her involvement with The Kingdom Ministry, where Debbie worshiped with her family. Her faith was central to her life, and she loved to sing and worship. She was especially proud of the women she had the privilege of ministering to through The Kingdom recovery ministry. Debbie had a tremendous heart for those experiencing addiction, homelessness, and hardship. She wanted people who were hurting to know they were seen, loved, and worthy of hope.

Her faith became even more precious during her journey with cancer. The battle was difficult, but she fought with incredible strength and determination. Her faith carried her through the hardest days of her life, and she remained a fighter to the absolute very end.

Debbie had prayed for God to send her a godly man—a companion to love and someone with whom she could live life fully. Then one day, a stranger named Rick Rodgers knocked on her front door and asked if she might be interested in selling her home and farmland.

Apparently, God has a sense of humor.

What began with an unexpected knock at the door quickly became a love story. Debbie and Rick married on April 1, 2005, just 3 months after meeting, and spent more than 21 years doing exactly what Deb had prayed for—loving one another and living life fully together.

And live it they did.

Rick and Debbie traveled, boated, laughed, explored, and made memories together. They became snowbirds, spending their winters at RiverLandings Florida Luxury Resort in LaBelle, Florida, and owned property in Punta Gorda. Debbie loved the beach and had a particular obsession with collecting seashells. Together, she and Rick built a life filled with family, faith, adventure, and plenty of stories worth retelling.

Family meant everything to Debbie. She loved her children fiercely and cared deeply for the people God had placed in her life. She had more nieces and nephews than could reasonably be named here, but she loved them all with her whole heart.

Of all the names she carried throughout her life, one of her most treasured was Nana.

Debbie loved her children fiercely, but her grandbabies held an especially tender place in her heart. To say she cherished them would be an understatement. Nana loved big, and each of her grandchildren knew how deeply they belonged to her. She was proud of them, talked about them, worried about them, celebrated them, and loved them with her whole heart. Being their Nana was one of the greatest joys of her life.

Deb’s beloved grandbabies are Avery Staggs, Troy Staggs, Garrick Staggs, Jayah Blue Staggs, Aiden Bryant, Serenity Bryant, Kaia Bryant, Aubrey Drouillard, Irie Jackson, Liam Rodgers, Bexlie Rodgers, Ace Rider, and Evan Rider. She was preceded in death by her beloved grandson, Hunter Jackson.

And then there was cleaning. Cleaning wasn’t simply something Deb did. It may have been her superpower.

Debbie was famously particular about keeping things clean, and those who knew her best would agree: nobody cleaned like she did. Her home reflected the same care she gave to so many other things in her life. She had a gift for creating a place that was not only spotless, but warm, welcoming, and comfortable—a place where people wanted to stay awhile.

Debbie is survived by her husband, Rick Rodgers; her children, Troy “TJ” Staggs (Dinah Blue), Torrie L. Bryant, Skylar Bryant, Eric Jackson (Bree Drouillard-Jackson), and Megan Rodgers (Aaron Rider); and Danielle Bryant.

She is also survived by her mother, Carol Miracle; her sister, Laura Ackerman (Mike); her brothers, Timmy Miracle [Teresa] and Jimmy Miracle (Michelle); and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends whom she loved wholeheartedly.

In addition to her beloved grandson Hunter, Deb was preceded in death by her father, Troy “Jim” Miracle; her sister, Kathy Allman; and her brother, Jonathan Miracle.

Deb’s family was her heart, but her circle was much larger than her family tree. Her capacity to love was enormous. Whether you were related to her by blood, marriage, friendship, church, or simply because Debbie decided you belonged, you knew when she cared about you.

Her life wasn’t without hard things. It wasn’t perfect. But it was full. Full of family. Full of laughter. Full of beaches and seashells. Full of conversations. Full of people who needed someone to listen. Full of women who needed hope. Full of grandbabies who knew their Nana adored them. And full of a faith that carried her all the way home.

Debbie fought hard. She loved hard. She lived fully. And on September 17, the woman who had spent a lifetime worshiping Jesus finally saw Him face to face.

The funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Myers-Reed Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Miracle officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Creek Cemetery, Westport.

Visitation will also be at the funeral home Saturday beginning at 12:00 noon until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Deb’s honor to Dove Recovery House for Women, 3070 Pavilion Drive, Columbus, IN 47201, an organization whose work offering women hope and a path toward recovery beautifully reflects Debbie’s own heart for women who were hurting and needed someone to believe in them.

Please leave a fond memory of Debra at www.Myers-Reed.com.