Deborah Marie Brumit Newton

Deborah "Debie" Marie Brumit Newton, 63, of Woodbury, Tennessee went on to be with the Lord with her love by her side on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. She was born to the late Richard and Betty Warren on Wednesday, December 12, 1962 at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia. Being born a military brat and an only child meant that Debie got the opportunity to do lots of moving and to carve out her own path in life.

Though she loved her parents, her love for her Nicaraguan grandmother played a significant role in shaping her. A culture known for resilience and warmth, often described as humble and hospitable, and having strong family bonds through whatever may come, Debie had the perfect influence to become the embodiment of "Memaw" to her friends and family. Graduating from high school in Marietta, Georgia, Debie decided at the ripe age of 18 to move to Tennessee. The Volunteer State embodied similar cultural values to Nicaragua, and her big heart had room to grow to its full potential.

Even in her career path, Debie stuck to "Memaw-related" industries. Throughout her working years, Debie worked primarily as a cashier in textile manufacturing but later worked in food services as a cashier with Aramark at MTSU. Making contact with several individuals through fabric and food just seemed to be a grand opportunity for Debie to share a smile, a word, and some encouragement. She positioned herself to use all of the talents God gave her to sow seeds of kindness and to leave a ripping impact.

Her vivacious spirit and contagious smile were sure to leave an impression, and they especially left an indelible mark on her family. Being a mom to filled Debie's heart with joy, and she loved her family without measure. Putting herself last wasn't a sacrifice in her book because she had never become of the habit of putting herself first. It was in her nature to be selfless, and her serving heart and hands shined through in every situation.

Meeting William in June 1992 only amplified her Memaw traits because she'd found the man who easily fell into the role of being "Pa." They were wed on December 17, 1995, and William spoiled Debie with her own personal zoo. It's easy to say you have animals if you have pets or a farm, but Debie had both. Chickens, pigs, cockatoos, cockatiels, dogs, turkeys, you name it, and it probably graced the Newton family property. A few stars over the earlier years were Priscilla the chicken, Bella the chihuahua, and Marvin the turkey. Just like people, the animals all had a name and a place in Debie's life and heart.

Dale, Dean, and C.J. reaped countless benefits because of William and Debie's love for one another, them, and the animals. Life settled into a rhythm of work, raising the boys, and tending to the animals. They were the years that when you're in them, they seem a little chaotic and tough, but looking back, they were golden. Debie's light made them all the more, and she added just the right amount of a woman's touch for her husband and three boys.

Life threw curves at William and Debie, and they were temporarily separated but only to come back even stronger. Mewmaw and Pa were together from that day forward and inseparable, and all her Memaw qualities? Well, they only grew.

The only Memaw hobby Debie never did quite get the hang of was gardening, but it sure wasn't from lack of effort. William liked to say she "tried gardening." Her lack of a green thumb stunted her yields, but it just gave them all something to laugh and pick at her over. They had to have something to pick at her about because her cooking and crochet work left their mouths watering and minds blown.

Debie enjoyed trying new recipes and keeping the house filled with a tantalizing aroma. There was a reason everyone called her Memaw (even her friends), and she demonstrated daily how she lived up to the title. In terms of her crochet work, Debie was a mastermind. Most of her patterns came from her head, and she did blankets, animals, coasters, oven mitts, and anything else she could come up with. If she had to watch a video to get her started on an animal, that was all she used it for - getting started. From there, she winged it, and somehow, it always came out just right. She was teaching Holly how to crochet. However, her fingers moved faster than her mouth, and she expected you to keep up. Being gifted, she didn't quite understand the difficulty of what she was doing, but lessons were still gleaned and memories made spending time together.

It's fairly obvious how Debie's personality and hobbies fit the title, "Memaw," but it was more than just that. Her character to the bone was "Memaw." She was Modest, Effervescent, Meticulous, Altruistic, and Wholesome. In modesty, she stayed humble and did not let pride or boastful words exit her mouth. In terms of effervescence, she sparkled with positive energy and a grit to get the job done. Meticulous? She had to be tending to her household with care and attentiveness. Her altruism shown through from a young age, and she never got too self-important to put others first and be genuinely concerned about their well-being before her own. And wholesome, doesn't that just sum up the title? She was pure and decent. She let kindness flow from her lips.

Debie was baptized and added into God's family at Bellwood Baptist Church, attending there until her health prevented her. Nevertheless, her work for God's Kingdom didn't stop there. It's hard to say the world became a little dimmer the day Debie went home because she generated so much lasting light while she was here. To strangers, her smile stayed with them. To her friends, her words stayed with them. To her family, her heart stayed with them. It may be dimmer since she left, but it is so much brighter because she lived.

She is survived by the love of her life, William Newton of Woodbury; sons, Dale (Tracy) Barnett of Russellville, KY and Dean (Holly) Barnett of Bradyville; bonus son, C.J. Kurth of Woodbury; grandchildren, Lexus Barnett of Woodbury, Lacey (Shawn Heriges) Barnett of Murfreesboro, and Hunter Trent of Bradyville; great grandson, Anthony Jacobe Jackson; brother-in-law, Donald Newton; sister-in-law, Ellen Stem; close friends, James Lee Harris and Amilia Tankersley; fur babies, Millie, Rosie, and Daisy; and feather baby, Henny.

Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Monday, October 5, 2026 from 9 AM to 2 PM. Funeral services will be Monday, October 5, 2026 at 2 PM in the Gentry-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Share memories and condolences at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337 Because every life has a story