Debbie Hennessee

Debbie Hennessee, 69, entered into the presence of the Lord on December 3, 2024. Debbie lived most of her life in North Augusta, South Carolina. An avid lover of education, she dedicated 35 years of her life to teaching third grade students at Douglas Elementary School. The faculty and students at Douglas held a special place in her heart and it brought her great pride to teach multiple generations. Forever a teacher at heart, Debbie’s favorite students were her great nephew and niece, Reid and Adaline Oestreich. She spent much of her retirement taking them to book fairs and libraries, volunteering at their schools, and even creating folders of learning activities for them. Debbie spent 27 summers from 1985-2012 at Noah’s Ark in Panama City Beach Florida. Deemed the permanent resident of room 2, the staff remember her best for her wild antics and enthusiastic, though terribly off key, rendition of Father Abraham, which she proudly performed on stage each night. Debbie always knew how to make others laugh, and while she was the adult chaperone in many instances, she was never too old to participate in prank wars with the college staff. Debbie was always unapologetically exactly herself. Whether she was tricking her siblings by saying she could do magic and turn their popsicles white (then sucking out all the flavor before returning plain ice to them, working her way into James Browns private funeral, embarrassing her nieces, or making videos of herself trying to carry a tune to show her musician friends, Debbie created waves of fun and laughter wherever she went. She is survived by her stepmother, Simone Hennessee; sisters, Tammie (Glenn) Meadows, and Brenda Hennessee (Robby Osborn); as well as her nieces and nephews, Krystal (Kyle) Oestreich, Megan (Will) Kuckro, Ryan Tengel (José Ibarra), Karoline (DJ) Traynor, Kaitlyn (Hayden) Franklin, Tracy (Ray) Williams, and Robert Meadows. Great nieces and nephews include Reid and Adaline Oestreich, Mason, Baker and Hayes Franklin, Owen and Emma Traynor, Savannah (Steven) Manuel, and Summer and Autumn Archer. She is preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Dr. Robert L. Hennessee and Marjorie C. Hennessee, and brother, Robert L. Hennessee Jr. Her family would like to thank the staff at Augusta Oncology for their care and support. Debbie looked forward to going to chemo because as she put it, she enjoyed her social time and being their “favorite patient”. Funeral Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Grace United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Cathy Jamieson and Dr. T. Joseph Lusk officiating. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service in the Wesley Center. Interment will be private. Active Pallbearers will be Kyle Oestreich, Will Riggs, Will Kuckro, José Ibarra, D.J. Traynor, Hadden Franklin, George Briggs, Bud Ziph, Roger McWaters, Ed Ward, and Ray Williams. Honorary Pallbearers will be Debbie’s great-nephews, cousins, the Women of Faith Sunday School Class, and her Noah’s Ark Family. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to Grace United Methodist Church (Women of Faith Sunday School Class) or Noah’s Ark (Panama City).

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Debbie Hennessee

August 24, 1955 - December 3, 2024