Lord, I will lift mine eyes to the hills
Knowing my health is coming from You
Your peace You give me in times of the storm...
Ms. Deborah Elaine Keaton, affectionately called “Debbie”, was born in Iredell County on May 13, 1961, and was the daughter of the late Mary Keaton Black. She departed this life on Wednesday April 1, 2020, at her home.
She was a 1979 graduate of Statesville High School and attended Mitchell Community College. At one time, she was employed by J. C. Penny as a Jewelry Department as a Supervisor. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her sister, Carolyn Smyre Jones; a brother, Clinton Mills, Jr.; a grandson, Taizel Whren.
She leaves to cherish the memory of her life, her son, Taj Dujuan (Ebony) Keaton of Statesville; her daughter, Latieka Smith of Statesville; two brothers, Larry (Valerie) Keaton of Troutman and Jerry Kimbrough of Greensboro; three sisters, Diane (James) Mills of Harrisburg, Pa., Margaret (Charles) Neal, Judy Chambers, Shon Murdock and Shontay Nicole Simpson, all of Statesville; grandchildren, Qualin Keaton, Tyja Green, Emani Green, Zykere Turner, Chanon Imes, Tylin Keaton, Jaunyae Smith, Jhazyah Smith and Jamiyah Smith; a godson, Jordan Fowler a special son, James Kinney; a special daughter, Miracle Brown; a brother-in-law, John C. Jones; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Wednesday, April 8, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home in Statesville, NC. Apostle Carl D. Lykes will officiate and burial will follow Belmont Cemetery.
There will be NO PUBLIC VISITATION, unfortunately, with the COVID-19 Virus we, at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, along with other funeral homes across the country, have been issued a mandate to limit the number of family and/or friends at funeral services. YOU CAN ONLY ENTER THE FUNERAL WITH A FUNERAL PASS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FAMILY.