Debra Ann Little

Debra Ann Little, age 70, of Luverne, Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on March 4, 2026. Funeral services for Debra will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, March 7th, at South Luverne Baptist Church with Rev. Justin Jacobs officiating. Interment will follow in Providence Cemetery under the direction of Turners Funeral Home of Luverne. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9:30 to 11 AM.

Debra was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 19, 1955, to William Samuel Stanaland and Blanche Jewel Bundrick. She attended the first grade in Andalusia, Alabama, but spent her childhood years in Luverne, Alabama, where she was later adopted by James Walker Byrd. She graduated from Crenshaw Christian Academy with a voice scholarship from Troy State University. While attending Troy State University Debra became a member of Collegiate Singers. After Troy State University, she went on to work at Old Southern Life Insurance Company while attending Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama. It was in Montgomery where she met Eddie. They were married on June 6, 1981, becoming a blended family with Eddie's two children, Edward Grey and Brenda Jo Little.

Debra is survived by her beloved husband, Eddie of 44 years, son David (Sarah), son Edward (Paula), and daughter Brenda Jo (William), six grandchildren, Jessica Daniels (Braxton), Jason Little (Emily), Nathan Little, Aidan Fisk, Oliver Fisk, and Luke Little, and two great grandchildren, Blakelee Daniels and Theodore Little. Debra is also survived by sisters; Becky Dickey (Tim), Diane Tomlin (Andy), Brenda Ryals (Allen), and brothers Lomax Byrd (Sally), Kurt Byrd (Vanesa) and Allen Byrd (Tammi), and Anthony Stanaland (Cheryl), and Randy Stanaland (Vicki).

After Eddie and Debra married she enrolled in Itawamba Junior College, Fulton, Mississippi where Eddie was working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After a year in Mississippi they moved to Dothan, Alabama, with Eddie's job at Ft. Rucker. Debra continued her studies at Troy State University in Dothan, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1985 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. At graduation Debra was honored by being selected to "Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges." During her years in Dothan, Debra worked with General Motors Acceptance Corporation. While, in Dothan, Debra partnered with a friend and they started a small but successful accounting business; Debits and Credits.

In April of 1987 God blessed Debra and Eddie with David, their only child together. Debra and Eddie became active members of Ridgecrest Baptist Church where they both came to know the Lord through their respective Sunday School classes and the mentoring of their pastor, Brother Jerry Spencer. Of course, Debra sang in the choir which she loved dearly. To compliment her love of music, she and several ladies formed an ensemble that became known as Sisters by Grace. They performed at many local churches over the years and even opened several shows at the annual Peanut Festival in Dothan.

In 1998, they moved to Huntsville, Alabama. While in Huntsville, Debra worked as a Financial Secretary for two Baptist churches, taught several women's Sunday School classes, and continued with her joy of singing in the choir. She was very involved in all the schools that David attended. She took on leadership roles in the PTA and was instrumental in significant fund raising campaigns for Monrovia Middle and Sparkman High Schools.

In 2013, upon Eddie's retirement, they moved to Debra's hometown of Luverne, Alabama. South Luverne Baptist Church became their home church where Debra continued to live out God's call on her life. She and a close friend began teaching a women's Sunday School class that became known as WOW, or Women of the Word. Debra took on additional roles within the church, but her love was studying, teaching and singing God's Word. In addition to teaching Sunday School, she was an invited guest speaker at numerous Women's Conferences and Women's Retreats over the years. Of course we all have the mental picture of Debra singing in the front row of the choir every Sunday where she would enthusiastically sing to the Lord with her arms raised to our KING.

There's so much that can be said about Debra! A very intelligent and gifted individual in so many ways-from her love of music, her soprano singing voice, a personality that drew people to her, her gift of teaching God's Word, and her accounting and organization skills just to name a few! But first and foremost, Debra loved the Lord and her family and it showed everywhere she went. She loved studying and teaching God's Word to any and all audiences. She was a beloved teacher to her WOW Sunday School class! Debra made an impact and left a Jesus wake everywhere she went. Debra will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and her church family at South Luverne Baptist Church!

Her Legacy will long be remembered.

Active pallbearers will be Nathan Little, Jason Little, Braxton Daniels, Aidan Fisk, Oliver Fisk, and Westin Byrd. John Goodwyn, Billy Roberts, Tim Dickey, and William Fisk will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Flowers are welcome and/or donations to "The Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Research" at lustgarten.org; or pancan.org dedicated in Debra's memory.