Deborah Ann "Debbie" Yerby

Deborah Ann "Debbie" Yerby, born March 17, 1952, in Detroit, Michigan, and raised in Ann Arbor, passed away on September 25, 2026. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and a cherished member of her community.

Debbie's creativity, faith, and love for her family were the cornerstones of her life. A woman of many talents and interests, she found great joy in crafting, painting, and gardening, earning her Master Gardener Certification. Her love for music was evident by her participation as a singer in the choir at Chester United Methodist Church. Faith was deeply significant to Debbie, prompting her to pursue training to become a lay pastor, thus allowing her to share her spiritual beliefs with others.

In addition to her creative pursuits, Debbie was dedicated to early childhood education. She earned her master's degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Virginia State University and proudly served as the preschool director at Chester United Methodist Church and Ivey Memorial Methodist Church.

She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Phillip C. Yerby IV; her daughter, Amanda Yerby; her son, Phillip Yerby V and his wife, Miranda; and her beloved grandchildren, Caden and Kinsley. Debbie also leaves behind her brother, Gary Dietz and his wife, Lorie, and her sister, Terri Dietz and her partner, Jim. She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin Henry Dietz and Betty Lou Dietz.

Deborah will be remembered fondly as a loving mother and grandmother, renowned for her sense of humor and for the many ways in which she enriched the lives of those around her with creativity and beauty.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service until 3:30 p.m. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made in Deborah's memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.