Deborah Williams James, age 70, of Amelia Island, FL, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, at Baptist Medical Center, Nassau County, FL.

Born on August 1, 1954 in Topeka, Kansas to the late Harry N. (Hank) and Joyce Farnell Williams, she grew up in Jacksonville, Florida and graduated from Edward H. White High School. Her career started in the automobile industry at local dealerships, ultimately mastering bookkeeping and accounting. She worked at law firms Rogers, Towers, Bailey, Jones and Gay in Jacksonville, Florida, and Gomel Davis & Watson in Atlanta, Georgia. Debbie loved her work, and especially loved the people she worked with, creating lifelong friendships.

Debbie was blessed with marriages to Alan Smith and Rick Anderson, but found her ultimate soulmate, Jerry James, whom she married in Maui, Hawaii in 1999. Their greatest love together was shag dancing and traveling the world, including husband/wife golf trips throughout the southeast. She also enjoyed shopping, going to the beach, attending concerts (backstage!), spoiling her cats Toby, Jilli and Sophie, doting on all her nieces and nephews, and she especially loved spending time with family and friends. And did we mention how much she enjoyed shopping (shoes!)!

Debbie and Jerry attended Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church in Marietta, Georgia.

Debbie leaves behind her brother, Ken Williams (Guen) of St. Petersburg, FL and their 3 children; Grant (Rachel) and her great niece and nephew, Nora and Gavin; Claire (Kevin Jordan) of Tampa, FL; and Burke of St. Petersburg, FL; her sister, Lyn Williams Sharpe (Paul Mee) of Amelia Island, FL and her 2 children; Zachary (Rachel) of Amelia Island, FL and her great nephews, Brent and Collin; and Garrett (Gerrett Lewis) of Amelia Island, FL; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 29th at 1:00 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home, Fernandina Beach, FL.

Prior to the service, from 12:30 until 1:00, the family will receive family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Debbie’s memory to Cat’s Angels, Amelia Island, FL or the Nassau Humane Society.