Debbie was happiest when she was planning a family celebration that gave her another opportunity to surround herself with her girls, standing before a canvas with paintbrush in hand contemplating the next stroke of a still life, capturing the quickly fading light of a plein air scene, or teaching one of her beloved dogs a new trick.
She loved her family and friends deeply, had a lifelong affection for animals, and found joy in creating beauty wherever she was, whether through her paintings, her home, her garden, or the simple details that made a place feel welcoming. Those who knew Debbie knew her as kind, uplifting, and encouraging, a woman who was every bit as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside.
A graduate of Lumberton High School, Debbie was a cheerleader, a standout track athlete, and was named Homecoming Queen. She grew up with a love of animals fostered during the many happy hours she spent on her grandparents’ farm.
Later in life, as an empty nester, Debbie discovered what would become one of her great passions: painting. She threw herself wholeheartedly into this newfound love and became a prolific oil painter. Her work often reflected the extraordinary travels she shared with her art friends, as well as the flowers and still lifes she loved to paint. Her paintings were filled with vibrant color and unexpected combinations, and they seemed to carry something of Debbie herself: joyful, colorful, and full of life.
Above all, Debbie loved her family. Her children and grandchildren knew they could count on her for anything, whether that meant dropping everything to satisfy a craving for one of her home-cooked meals, offering a quiet and steady presence during a difficult time, or dispensing the brutally honest advice that only someone who loves you completely can give. Whatever the circumstance, she was there. Perhaps Debbie’s greatest gift was the way she made people feel. She had an extraordinary ability to put others at ease, encourage them, and make them feel genuinely loved. It is a gift that will remain with the many people whose lives were made warmer and more beautiful simply because Debbie was part of them.
Debbie is survived by her daughters, Brooke High, Shelley High (Jack), and Sammie Bolton (Billy); her granddaughters, Bailee Rayborn (Bradley), Anna Anderson, Lainie Jo Bolton, and Eliza Anderson; and her great-granddaughters, Avie Jo, Annie, Mollie, Addie, and Ellie. She is also survived by Sherrill High; her brother, Greg Ladner (Jan); and many beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Ladner and Sammie Ladner.
Debbie’s family is deeply grateful to the staff of Asbury Hospice House, the Sherrard family, Leslie Padilla, Mark Stucks, and other beloved friends for the kindness, care, friendship, and support they gave Debbie and her family. Their compassion during this time will never be forgotten.
Services for Debbie will take place on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at White Funeral Home in Poplarville, Mississippi. A Visitation will be held from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:30 AM. The Memorial Service will be live streamed and accessible via the White Funeral Home Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Asbury Hospice House through the Forrest General Healthcare Foundation, 125 S. 28th Avenue, Suite 149, Hattiesburg, MS 39402, or to Southern Pines Animal Shelter, 1901 N. 31st Avenue, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
