Heaven's gain became the Earth's loss when Deborah "Debbie" Fowler passed away on May 23, 2021,  at the age of 60.  Born in Anderson County, SC on July 9, 1960, she was the daughter of the late Fred and Eleanor Smith. A faithful and loving wife to Jimmy E. Fowler for 38 years, she was a proud and steadfast member of Hawkins United Methodist Church since moving to Vicksburg from Clemson, SC in 1983. All who knew her would agree that Debbie was truly an angel here on Earth. She was the world's greatest mother to her children, Brandy Leigh and Brittany Lynn Fowler.  Predeceased by her twin sister, Rebecca "Becky" Rodgers, who gave her the gift of an additional 18 years of life by donating a kidney when Debbie was suffering the effects of an inherited kidney disease.  Debbie is survived by two older sisters that she loved dearly, Kathryn Overstreet and Patricia Duelfer.  Despite the many challenges associated with her health issues, Debbie was very active in her children's lives and was an amazing role model. She put 110% into everything she did, from being a wife, mom, sister, teacher, coach, social worker, and talented artist.  Debbie was also a loving and supportive Army wife who served this country just as honorably as her husband for more than 35 years.  A graduate of Clemson University, she was a lifelong Fighting Tiger. Debbie was full of love for everyone in her life but was even easier to be loved by anyone who had the privilege of getting to know her.  A woman of God, one of her greatest joys was as leader of a Women's Bible Study Group. These women had a strong and loving bond with Debbie and serve as Honorary pallbearers,  including but not limited to, Cathie Newton, Cheryl Montgomery, Cheryl Lloyd, Debbie Tate, Lin Cheslek, Nancy Biggers, Pamela Dorrell, Delane Killgore, Janet Chisolm, Loretta McKinney, and Doris Jarrod. Deborah will be cremated and her remains will later be combined with those of husband Jimmy upon his passing.

Visitation will be at Hawkins UMC , 3736 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS on Saturday,  June 5, 2021 from 10-noon, followed by a memorial service immediately thereafter.

Memorials may be made to Hawkins UMC, 3736 Halls Ferry Road,  Vicksburg, MS,  or to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, Polycystic kidney disease | PKD treatment research | PKD Foundation (pkdcure.org) .