Deborah Sanders Byrd

Deborah Sanders (Sawyer) Byrd was born on February 22, 1955, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was raised in a loving home with her parents Mary and late Albert Sawyer and siblings.

After graduating from Rule High School she pursued her technical degree as a Dental Assistant. Deb (Deborah) held the position as a Dental Assistant/Office Manager in one the first Dental Clinics in Knoxville and continued in this field for over 25 years.

Deb had an infectious upbeat demeanor and a zest for life. A strong faith in God and was a member of Payne Avenue Baptist Church. She loved people and always grasped the opportunity to uplift and inspire whomever she encountered.

Her desires were serving & loving others by hosting various social gatherings, traveling, gardening, visiting the beach, playing pool and competitive cards with close friends and family. She was a consistent caregiver for her spunky 97-year-old mother up until God called her home. But most of all, her greatest passion was her daughter, Andrea D. Crouse whom she loved and adored.

Preceded in death is her devoted father, Albert Sawyer; husband Rayne Nile Byrd; brother, Charles Alvin (Laurice) Smith; uncles, Ben, James (Berta), Charles Prigmore; aunts Inez (Charles) Wright, Dorothy Yancey McGee; cousins, Clarence Edward Yancey, Mike Yancey, Juliette Yancey. Ben Sanders, and Walter Davis.

She leaves to cherish her memory; loving and devoted daughter, Andrea D. Crouse; dedicated mother, Mary Wills Sawyer; devoted brother, Billy C. Williams; sisters,Sheila Sawyer Reed, and Sarah Candie Sanders (four children); sister-in-law, Naomi Williams; uncle, Herman Dennis; nephew, Derek (Natalie) Williams; nieces Tosha and Toyia- Nichole Williams; two great nieces; cousins Jeff (Doris) Yancey, Dorothy (Joe) Waterson, Sonya (Troy) Etheridge, Quentin (Kelly) Prigmore, Stephanie Yancey; devoted cousins Ronnie Yancey, Evelyn (Bill) Waters, Tonya Upton, Andrea Nadine Collins. And a host of up to 20 great cousins.

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