Debra Sue (Sherrill) Adams now lives her eternal life with Christ Our Savior. She died in Houston, Texas surrounded by her family on December 22nd, 2022. “Debbie Sue” was born December 29th, 1944, the oldest child of Sam and Margaret “Sis” Sherrill. Debbie was a Houston native. She attended elementary school at Our Savior Lutheran School, where she met Norman in the first grade. She and Norman were confirmed together at Our Savior Lutheran Church. They attended Black Junior High, Reagan High School and Waltrip High School where Debbie proudly served as Praetor of the Imperial Guard drill team her senior year. She was an AAU competitive swimmer for the Little Oaks and Sparks swim team swimming the 200M and 400M medley and freestyle. Debbie spent many a Summer afternoon water skiing and sailing with her sister, brother, cousins, and friends in Galveston Bay at Bacliff. Debbie and Norman married in 1964 and raised two children Tracy Lynn and Andrew Allan.
Debbie devoted her life to her family and her church. She was a consummate cook learning the art of gumbo and many other savory and sweet delights from her mother and grandmother as well as so many of her own creations. These gifts were put to good use throughout her years feeding, hosting, and entertaining generations of family, friends, church, and a great host of strangers who enjoyed her cooking and by extension her love.
As the beating heart of her household, she and Norman were active parents driving water ski boats, snow skiing, leading Girl Scout troops, hunting, surviving RV adventures, and even an occasional SCUBA. She never missed a sporting or performance event for her kids or her grandkids no matter the stakes. Her love for her children was only matched by her love for her grandchildren. She chose “GiGi” as her given grandma title and has spent the last 20 years showering them with love making memories and giving gifts both large and small. She took them on family cruises across the world, baked Christmas cookies, performed “life saving” sewing repairs for cherished “lovies,” and everything in between. Their wishes were her commands.
Debbie Sue built her life around Our Savior Lutheran Church serving as founding President of the Altar Guild since 1981. No detail was too small to miss her attention and she was at the center of activity every year hanging the garlands and decorating the church for Christmas, even overseeing the delivery of the poinsettias this past week before Christmas. It is fitting she is being laid to rest when the Sanctuary is at its most beautiful celebrating the birth of the Lord who now hosts her in heaven.
She was the driving force behind the annual Mother-Daughter banquet, an OSL tradition she started 30 years ago. She worked tirelessly in the kitchen at each banquet with her volunteer crew to make sure every meal was served with love. Norman and Debbie hosted OSL youth groups at Lake Travis for many years and Debbie was a constant in the kitchen at VBS and countless church events. Debbie served as a church secretary for more than two decades. Her hard work, dedication, and love have touched the lives of at least four generations of OSL members. Debbie was worth far more than rubies to her church family.
In 1996, Debbie was a founding member of the Imperial Guard Alumnae. The group was formed to support and raise money for various women’s shelters in Houston and has raised more than $300,000 and given 225 scholarships for students. In 2004, an Imperial Guard Alumnae scholarship was named in her honor.
Debbie is preceded in death by her father and mother Sam and Sis Sherrill. She is survived by her “first husband” Norman, her daughter Tracy and husband Mark Dacus, her son Andrew and wife Amy Adams and their children, “GiGi’s” grandchildren, Isabella Adams, Benjamin Adams, Samuel Adams, and Livia Adams, her sister Wendy and husband Dale Carter, brother Bill and wife Pat Sherrill, her cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of church family, and friends.
All of them arise with her children and her husband to call her blessed. Many women do noble things, Debbie, you surpassed them all. Thank you. Rest in Peace.
The funeral for Debbie will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 5000 W. Tidwell Rd., Houston, Texas 77091 on Thursday, December 29, 2022. There will be a visitation immediately preceding the funeral at 10:00 AM with the service beginning at 12:00 PM. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Altar Guild at Our Savior Lutheran Church.
