Deborah Mitchell Thomason

Deborah “Debby” Mitchell Thomason, known as Nana by her beloved grandchildren, was a beautiful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Those who knew her loved her with all their heart because she effortlessly led her life with grace and compassion. Debby went home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 20, 2026. She was a native of Sulphur, LA, longtime resident of Lake Charles, LA, and current resident of Spring Hill, TN.

Visitation will be on Saturday September 5, 2026 at 10:00 am followed by the Celebration of Life at 11:00 am. All services will take place at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake Street Lake Charles, LA.

Debby is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 58 years, Bill Thomason, daughter, Jill Noel (Jay) of Baton Rouge and daughter, Jennifer Barton (Jason) of Spring Hill, TN, and grandchildren, Jana Noel Zaunbrecher (Alan), Josh Noel, Jacob Barton, Jonah Barton, and Jackson Barton, along with her sister Marla Stine (Dennis) and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Tom & Ruth Mitchell, and her brother, Tommy Mitchell.

Debby loved spending time with family and friends. She had an amazing green thumb and cultivated beautiful gardens. When she and Bill weren’t traveling, she thoroughly enjoyed entertaining in every season and in the summers watching all 5 grandchildren become great swimmers in their pool. Debby loved all things Christmas instilling a passion for the holidays into her daughters and grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was seeing her son-in-law Jason perform and listening to his Christmas album “Believe”.

Debby was the original owner and director of Sylvan Learning Center of Lake Charles. Her passion for education and heart for children led to an amazing 30 years working many of those years alongside Rene Reina. They both assisted countless children working closely with local schools and the community.

Debby was a longtime member of Trinity Baptist Church where she was involved in adult Sunday school and women’s Bible studies. She also met with an incredible group of women who attended different churches throughout the Lake area. She enjoyed attending worship with lifelong friends and seeing both daughters get married at Trinity. Debby sponsored children in Guatamala through Casa Halleluia and donated to several faith-based organizations. Her deep faith in Christ and love of His Word guided her ability to bring calm, focus, and reason to every situation. Debby was always supportive, encouraging, and loving.

The family would like to thank the many friends and family for their love and support, especially Pastor Steve James along with caregivers and Hospice staff at The Goldton Memory Care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Disease research:

donate.brightfocus.org