Mrs. Debra Alma Louise Askew passed away on Friday, April 2, 2021. Age 67 years. She was born on October 16, 1953 in Greenville, South Carolina to Mable Sercey Jones and Thomas Frank Jones, Sr.
Debra was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan, and was a faithful member of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Otis Washington, Sr. She attended Highland Park Community College and Delta College. Debra was previously employed at Vlasic Pickle Company, and at The Saginaw News. She enjoyed planting flowers, fishing, sharing funny videos on her computer, going to the casino, and playing the lottery. Debra also enjoyed finding recipes for her children to cook, watching TV, and sharing her opinion about aliens, ghosts, and politics. One of her greatest hobbies was taking photos of nature, animals, and her family. She was humorous, outgoing, and outspoken. Debra loved talking, complimenting, and encouraging people. She was well-known for adopting people, therefore creating an extended family as her own to love.
She leaves to cherish loving memories two daughters, Tracy (Freddy Jr.) Johnson, Saginaw, Michigan, Michia Donald, Atlanta, Georgia; three sons, Morris Donald, Detroit, Michigan, Ronnie Askew, Jr. (Lashawn Thomas), Louisville, Kentucky, Robert (Shaniesa) Askew, Saginaw, Michigan; goddaughter, Traci Douglas, Saginaw, Michigan; grandchildren, Sharonda, Travon, Jazmen, Shalonda, Shania, Freddy III, Tre’vell, Michael, Robin, Raven, Aliyah, Ryan, Jaylen, and Jamal; great-grandchildren, Honest’e, Nasir, JaVoni; one sister, Cornellia R. (Jones) McCormick, Southfield, Michigan; one brother, Michael (Karen) A. Jones, Taylors, South Carolina; one aunt, Charity Jones; many other relatives and friends including best friend, Eva Wilbert, special friends, Vera Parks, First Lady Bonn Washington, special niece, Charity Jones, adopted son, Sam Graves, adopted daughter, Teresa Wilbert, many other nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Debra was preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie Ray Askew, Sr., parents, Mable Sercey Jones and Thomas Frank Jones, Sr., and brother, Thomas Frank Jones, Jr.
The family would like to express special thanks to Dr. Courtland Seavers, Dr. Sue Tobin, Covenant Cancer Care Physicians Group, American Home Health Care, Covenant HealthCare Mackinaw 3rd Floor Infusion Care Therapy staff, Messiah Missionary Baptist Church Family, Ivan E. Phillips and the staff at Paradise Funeral Chapel.
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Please send flowers to Paradise Funeral Chapel, 3100 South Washington Avenue, Saginaw, Michigan, 48601
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