Deborah Lanette Brown

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Deborah Lanette Brown,65 a lifelong resident of Jonesboro passed from this life on Wednesday, May 22, 2024.  She was born in June 1, 1958 to Alfred “Buddy” and Francis Brown.  She was of the Baptist belief.  Debbie was the valedictorian of her 1976 graduating class from Valley View. She was a dedicated RN for many years. We have all tried to think of words that capture all of who she is and it is frankly impossible without writing a novel. It is absolutely useless to try and explain how beautiful her smile was and how it always filled her eyes. We cannot explain her absolute grit, strength and determination. We cannot explain to those who didn't experience it, what it was like to be loved by her.

We do know that there are so very, very many who could add chapters and descriptions and feelings and stories to that novel with us. But, if you knew her, you loved her and you know she loved you too. So instead of continuing to try putting a life and soul absolutely beautifully lived into words, we have decided to list just a small fraction of those who were graced with her in our lives. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson, Hunter Coggins.

Survivors include her sons, Chris Coggins and his wife Heather of Lake City; Daniel Coggins; Randal Coggins; daughters, Bambie Islas; all of Jonesboro; Sunshine Grant and her husband Bruce, of Brookland; Lacey Coggins of Jonesboro; step-dad, Roger Whitaker of Jonesboro; brothers, Robert Brown of Strawberry, David Brown of Lynn, Dale Whitaker of Jonesboro; sisters, Brenda DeTrana of Santa Barbara, California; Karen McKay of Cave City; Megan James of Hot Springs Village; Melinda Phillips of O’Kean; 19 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be 6:00 PM Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at Emerson Memorial Chapel with Chris Coggins presiding over the service and Emerson Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.  Visitation will be from 5:00 until service time. Burial will be private.

For lasting memorials, please consider, Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72202, www.archildrens.org; or ST. Jude, Children’ Research Hospital. St. Jude, Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, Tennessee, 38105. To sign an online guestbook, go to emersonfuneralhome.com.