Funeral services for Debra Louise Sykes McDaniel were conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at Saulters Moore Funeral Home Chapel with interment following in the Old Hebron Cemetery.  Rev. Micah Rutland officiated.  Ms. McDaniel, age 62, passed away early Monday morning, April 24, 2023, at her daughter’s home in Magee.

The family received friends Tuesday evening, April 25, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Saulters Moore Funeral Home.

Serving as pallbearers were Josh Sykes, Wade Daughdrill, Vince Clark, Gerald Taylor, Randy Berry and Chris Harrison.

Debra Louise Sykes McDaniel was born on Dec. 29, 1960, in Prentiss, to David Benjamin Sr. and Nancy Daughdrill Sykes. Debbie was a 1979 graduate of New Hebron High School and spent her life as a homemaker, raising her children and taking care of her family.  Everyone that knew Debbie knew that she loved people and made friends easily.  After her health began to fail a few years back, she moved to her daughter’s home in Magee, where she continued to make friends.  Many happy hours were spent rocking on her front porch, enjoying her Folgers Coffee and waving at passersby; some of which would stop off for a visit, leaving a gift of banana bread, some fruit or a plate from a church dinner.  Her daughters recall that their mother always made birthdays special for each of them.  They fondly remember that the “birthday girl” would be awakened with her own cinnamon roll, complete with a birthday candle announcing the beginning of the special day.  Debbie also loved to cook and possessed a special knack of creating a great meal from hardly anything and will especially be remembered for the cornbread dressing she made.  Debbie also had a “green thumb” and loved flowers.  Many stories can be told of how she would stop on the side of the road and dig up anything to take home and replant or the fact that she could root anything.  Debbie was very much loved by her family and will be missed by all who knew her.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, David Sr. and Nancy Sykes; her sister, Pamela Sykes; her brother, Todd Sykes and her nephew, Brandon Sykes.

Her memory will forever by cherished by her three daughters, Hayley Owens (Devin) of Brookhaven, Mindy Taylor of Magee, Abi McDaniel of New Hebron; two brothers, David B. Sykes Jr. of Pinola and Tony Sykes (Sandy) of New Hebron.  The legacy of their Mami will also live on through her grandsons, which she adored, Myles and Benson Owens.

Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com