Deborah Joy Phillips Wren, of Brandon, MS, passed away in her home, surrounded by loved ones on the evening of Friday, July 17, 2026.

Debbie, as she was known to all, was born on September 8, 1949, to Ethel May Hough Phillips and Ace Walter Phillips in Oak Grove, LA.

Debbie graduated from Wingfield High School in Jackson in 1968 and then attended Hinds Community College in Raymond, MS, where she earned her Associate’s Degree. From there, she attended Mississippi State University in Starkville, earning her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Social Work in 1972. In 1977, she went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mississippi State University’s extension campus in Jackson.

She married Leabert Guy Wren, Jr. on May 29, 1972, in the chapel of Oak Forest Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. They were married for 49 years and had two children together, Judy Lea Wren and Phillip Walter Wren.

In 2000, Judy married Robert Daniel Peters and in 2012, Phillip married Jessica Lynn Westbrook. She loved her son and daughter-in-law like her own children. Her son blessed her with two beautiful grandchildren, Aurelia Iris Westbrook Wren and Augustin Bikorimana Westbrook Wren, whom she loved deeply. She bragged constantly about her granddaughter’s artistic and musical abilities and her grandson’s bright smile and athletic accomplishments. Every year that she was able, she made sure to be there for her grandchildren’s birthday parties, even when it meant flying to Qatar.

Debbie had a long and successful career as an early childhood educator. She taught at and eventually was the director of Oak Forest Baptist Church’s kindergarten program for most of the 1980’s. She also taught four-year old kindergarten at Alta Woods Baptist Church and Brandon First Baptist Church. After she retired from teaching, she opened Birdsong Music where she gave private piano and vocal lessons to young people in the Brandon area.

Debbie was also very involved in developing materials and curriculum for the Southern Baptist Convention’s children music program and was a frequent presenter on the church children music conference circuit. She even wrote and published a children’s song “Down on Grandpa’s Farm” that was included in the Southern Baptist Convention’s children’s music curriculum for many years.

Debbie was a long and active member of Oak Forest Baptist Church. While she served on nearly every committee in the church at some point, she will be mostly remembered for her many years performing with the choir where her strong soprano would ring out for all to hear. She eventually joined Brandon Baptist Church where she was a member until her passing.

Debbie was also devoted to her family. She took her responsibilities as big sister to Paula Tomlinson, Denise Odom, and Yonea Chunn very seriously and she loved being an aunt to her eight nephews, six nieces, and all her great nephews and nieces.

In addition to being a talented vocalist and pianist, Debbie enjoyed traveling and was blessed to visit over a dozen countries on four different continents. She enjoyed collecting tea cups and creating personalized cards with her Stamping Up group.

Debbie also loved Jesus. She had a daily devotional practice and her faith was unshakable. In one of her last conversations with her children, she said she was ready for Jesus to take control.

Remaining to carry on Debbie’s confidence, leadership, and loving spirit are her two children, Judy Wren and Phillip Wren; their spouses, Robert Peters and Jessica Westbrook; her grandchildren, Aurelia Westbrook Wren and Augustin Bikorimana Westbrook Wren; her three sisters, Paula Tomlinson, Denise (David) Odom, and Yonea (Steven) Chunn; nephews, Mark Tomlinson, Paul (Serena) Welch, Jonathan Odom, Matthew (Brittany) Chunn, Micheal Chunn, Mark Chunn, Macain (Elizabeth) Chunn, and Mitchell Chunn; nieces, Jennifer (Clint) Tomlinson, Monica (Steve) Van Keuren, Mary Katherine Chunn, Margaret (Caleb) Chunn Brown, Martha (Jimmy) Chunn Janes, and Molly Chunn; great nephews and great nieces, Kennedy Odom, Bryce and Aubrey Chunn, Ace, Freddie, Riley, and Rosie Brown, Elaine, Ada Yonea, and Jonathan James, Arthur, Theodore, and Penelope Chunn; great-great grandson Banks Young.

Preceding Debbie to heaven are her parents, Ethel Phillips and Ace Phillips; her brother-in-law, Dave Tomlinson; and her nephew Scott Tomlinson.

Visitation will be at Ott and Lee Funeral home, 1360 W Government St, Brandon, MS, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 11:00-1:00, with services to follow at 1:00, John Alumbaugh officiating.