Debra Kay Goldsberry

Debbie was born on November 10, 1956, in Louisville, Kentucky, the only daughter to the late Eugene and Annette Tipton. She married John Robert Goldsberry on March 11, 1974, and they had three children: Hope, Nathan, and Tenee’.

Debbie was preceded in death by her son, Nathan Goldsberry; her brother, Eddie Tipton; and her parents, Eugene and Annette Tipton.

Debbie is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, John Goldsberry of Lehigh Acres; her daughters, Hope Goldsberry-Simpson (CJ) of Lehigh Acres and Tenee’ Mondragon (Gus) of Cape Coral; and nine grandchildren: Saige, Maddix, Londyn, Mizzy, Grayson, Ellie, Jai, Beckham, and Lenny.

Debbie was a woman well known in her community for her tireless dedication to rescuing senior dogs. She founded the rescue, Senior Paws Sanctuary (SPS), in 2015 as a way to provide a second chance to the old, sick, unwanted, and abandoned senior dogs in SWFL. In those 11 years, she rescued and gave that second chance to over 400 dogs, and for the last 5 years, those rescue dogs are what kept her fighting to live for another day. Her final wish was to find "furever" homes for her last seven dogs at the rescue, and her family fulfilled that wish shortly before she headed to meet her four-legged companions at the rainbow bridge.

Just as she never forgot an animal in need, we will never forget her; she will be loved, remembered, and deeply missed for all of our days.

“A righteous woman cares for the needs of the animals” (Proverbs 12:10), and we know the Lord welcomed her with arms wide open and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you honor Debbie’s memory by adopting a senior dog or by making a donation to Lee County Domestic Animal Services.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11am Funeral Service will begin at 11:00am and conclude inside Funeral Home at 12:30 pm at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park, 12777 State Road 82, Ft. Myers, FL 33913. All are welcome to attend, and we ask that everyone wears the color purple or their favorite Senior Paws Sanctuary (SPS) t-shirt in honor of her legacy. A private entombment will follow at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery. Info: 239-334-4880