Deborah “Debbie” Wannage Grimball of Berwick, Louisiana, passed away on September 24, 2026, at the age of 69, leaving behind a family who loved her dearly and a lifetime of stories that will be told for years to come.
Debbie was married to her devoted husband, Victor Conrad Grimball Sr., for 35 years. She is survived by Victor; her two sons, Victor Conrad Grimball Jr. and Cody Jack Grimball; her nine grandchildren, Jade Olds, Justin Olds, Jordon Olds, Ayden Salvador, Briana Grimball, Claire Grimball, Harley Grimball, Maddie Grimball, and Nevaeh Grimball; numerous great-grandchildren; her brother, Edward Weldon Wannage Jr.; her brother-in-law, Steve Joseph Aucoin Sr.; and many other loving family members and friends.
She was a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, Mawmaw, aunt, and friend. Debbie was an outspoken woman who knew what she wanted, held strong opinions, and never made anyone guess where she stood. Yet beneath her “I am woman, hear me roar” personality was a big heart. She made sure the people she loved knew it and never missed an opportunity to tell them, repeatedly, that she loved them. If it was your birthday, you could count on a phone call from Debbie and Uncle Victor, serenading you with “Happy Birthday.” The little things mattered to Debbie, especially when it came to family and friends.
Debbie truly never met a stranger. She did not measure people by the color of their skin, their race, their background, or their identity. To Debbie, people were people, and everyone deserved kindness, dignity, and love. She had a way of welcoming people exactly as they were and making them feel like they belonged. And Debbie had a lot of people to love. Her circle of friends stretched far and wide, and somewhere along the way, their children became hers, too. She collected “adopted kiddos” everywhere she went, loving them, checking on them, celebrating them, and claiming them as her own. Family, to Debbie, was never limited to blood. If she loved you, you were hers, and chances are, your kids were hers, too.
She lived out one of Scripture’s simplest and greatest commands: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Her faith was also reflected in one of her favorite passages, Psalm 23. The words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” brought her comfort and now offer comfort to those who loved her, with the reminder that the Shepherd she trusted in life has not left her now.
She was also a stickler for good service. When someone treated her well, she made sure to show her appreciation, often with a generous tip. But don’t let those doe eyes fool you. If her order was wrong or she felt disrespected, you were going to hear about it. There was a good chance your manager would hear about it, too, possibly even your mother, because Debbie seemed to know “everybody and their momma,” and probably their grandmaw, too. That was Debbie. She loved big, expected people to do right, and had no problem telling you exactly what she thought. She also knew her way around a kitchen. Her secret sauce and much-loved lasagna and deep-dish, and I mean really deep pizza, were family favorites. But her grandchildren might insist that her true masterpiece was her grilled cheese. Calling it good would not do it justice. Debbie’s grilled cheese was phenomenal, setting a standard that every grilled cheese afterward struggled to meet. Her family will remember the birthday songs, favorite meals, familiar sayings, strong opinions, laughter, the smell of the incense she burned, her 7UP, and all the ordinary moments that became extraordinary because Debbie was part of them.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, May Waveland “Mom” Durocher Wannage and Edward Weldon “Pop” Wannage; her sisters, Joan Wannage Gilmore and Patricia Wannage Aucoin; her daughter, Jessica Lynn Olds; her nephews, Daniel Paul Gilmore and Ashton Elijah Money; and her niece, April May Wannage.
Debbie’s absence leaves an ache words cannot fully express, but her life cannot be summed up by simply saying she will be missed.
She will be talked about and laughed about. Her favorite dishes will be remembered, compared, and probably never quite duplicated. Her birthday song will echo in the minds of those who heard it year after year. Her family will tell stories that begin, “Y’all remember when Debbie…” and everyone will know they are about to hear a good one.
Through every story, shared memory, and laugh amid the tears, a little piece of Debbie will still be right there with them.
In lieu of flowers, the family would gratefully appreciate donations to help offset funeral expenses.
A memorial visitation celebrating Debbie’s life will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City with a memorial service beginning at 12:00pm and dismissal following.The service will be conducted by Wendall Douglas of Mississippi. Wendall is a lifelong friend of the family and officiated at Debbie and Victor's wedding.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Hargrave Funeral Home of Morgan City, Louisiana.
