Debbie Hepler
Debbie Hepler, 72, a resident of Henderson, passed away April 12, 2026, at Select Speciality Hospital in Jackson.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2026, at White-Ranson Funeral Home. Robert Hatfield will be officiating. Burial will follow in East View Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Austin Barber, Nathan Chupp, Adam Cross, Clay Hepler, Ryan Hepler and Matt Russell.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Hepler was born on July 19, 1953, in Union City to Wayne and Betty (Johnson) Barber. An Obion County native, she attended Dixie Elementary and graduated from Obion County Central High School and Anderson’s Beauty School in 1971. She also attended Freed-Hardeman University, but then returned home to pursue her passion of sewing by opening her own fabric store.
On June 13, 1976, she married her beloved husband of almost 50 years, Rick Hepler. They lived in Union City for 45 of those years where she was an active member at Bishop Street Church of Christ and Martin Church of Christ. She and Mr. Hepler have spent the last five years living in Henderson and are members at Henderson Church of Christ.
Mrs. Hepler lived a full life as a small business owner, seamstress, cook, Bible class teacher, daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. While she had many gifts, her greatest gift was how well she loved her family and friends. She fought Parkinson’s for 17 years leaving behind a legacy of grace, strength, courage and faith through suffering praising Jesus until her last breath.
Mrs. Hepler is survived by her husband, Rick; her two daughters, Beth Anne (Jarred) Clayton of Henderson and Betsi (Jonathan) Pettus of Germantown; four grandchildren, Anna Jewell and Grady Clayton and Xander and Connor Pettus; her parents, Wayne and Betty Joe Barber of Union City; her sister, Melinda (Kelley) Cross of Union City; her brother, Brad (Anna) Barber of Memphis; two brother-in-laws, Randy (Becky) Hepler of Union City and Rusty (Robin) Hepler of Newbern; two aunts, Janie Gill of Union City and Patsy Barber of Henderson; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her grandparents, Herbert and Bea Barber and Oval and Irene Johnson.
The family requests memorials be sent to the Parkinson’s Foundation and Freed-Hardeman University.
Condolences may be sent to the family at the funeral home website: www.white-ransom.com.
The Messenger