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Mizell’s friendship missed
Victim remembered as a devoted friend, full of life
Published Thursday, January 3, 2008
NATCHEZ — Deborah Mizell is in heaven. Her friends know that for certain.
And the tragedy that took her there Tuesday can’t erase the life full of family, friends and laughs she lived for 49 years.
Mizell, who was accidentally shot by her husband Glenn, died in the kitchen of her Jeff Davis Boulevard house early Tuesday morning.
But the memories stayed here.
“She was a devoted friend, whether or not you had spoken to her in the last six months or the last six years,” Diane Rice said. “If she knew you had a need or were hurting, she was going to reach out to you.”
Rice has attended Parkway Baptist Church with Mizell for the last 16 years. But their friendship grew stronger over the last five years.
Rice, a cancer survivor, works heavily with the church’s Relay for Life team. Two years ago, when the opportunity arose, Mizell volunteered to take over the teams’ finances.
“It was because she was a friend,” Rice said. “I had dealt with cancer and she wanted to be there.”
Friends were important to Mizell, friend DaNell Ballard said, but God, then family came first.
“She was a godly woman who loved her family,” Ballard said. “She loved her grandchild and daughter, but she would tell others that God came first and the family came after him.”
And keeping things in that order made life worth living, friends said.
“She was so full of life,” friend Linda Garrett said. “She did everything to the nth degree.”
That’s true, Ballard said, whether it was her work — first at Natchez Community Hospital and most recently at Natchez Regional — shopping, cooking or scrapbooking.
“This past November we took a trip to the Smoky Mountains together,” Ballard said. “Just the car ride up there itself was a blast because you were with friends you loved to be around.”
Being friends with Mizell meant being loved, Rice said.
“If you’ve ever been the recipient of Deborah’s friendship, you know it was sincere,” she said. “It was 100 percent. She didn’t give it to you partially.”
Funeral arrangements are not yet final.
Comments
Posted by seeemeeego (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 12:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can someone please tell me if this was the Deborah Brewer who graduated from SNAHS around 1975 or 76 and during high school lived in Westover Heights subdivision?
Posted by amr161 (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 12:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yes it is
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, this is the Deborah Brewer who graduated with the class of 1976 (in the old convention center because of rain)from SNAHS and was a Cheerleader. She has a sister named Suzan. Deborah was a fine person and married a fine man, Glenn Mizell. They used to live off of Duck Pond Raod, close to the old store at Fenwick. She is greatly missed and my heart goes out to her family, Glenn, and his family. Glenn, please put your trust in God. Bad things happen sometimes to good people like you and Deborah. Let Jesus place his footprints in the sand as he carries you through this rough ordeal.
Posted by gulledge (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 6:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I USE TO WORK WITH DEBORAH IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.SHE WAS INDEED A VERY FRIENDLY PERSON. LATER I WOULD GO GET MY STICKER AND MET HER HUSBAND . I WOULD ALWAYS TELL HIM TO TELL HER HELLO AND FINALLY I SAW HER AT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AND IT WAS LIKE WE HAD NEVER BEEN APART. SHE WAS SO NICE. I HAVE SINCE MOVED FROM NATCHEZ AND LEARNED OF THIS TRAGEDY ON LINE AND I WAS SO DEEPLY SADDENED.TO THE FAMILY PLEASE PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD HE WILL GIVE YOU PEACE. I KNOW THE LORD WILL BE WITH YOU.
Posted by Jasw (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't know Deborah, but I know Glen. We graduated
together. In high school I considered him a friend.
It's gonna be rough these next couple of month. Just know
that you and your family are on many prayer list. Be strong.
Give your burden to the Lord. He knows what it is to lose
a loved one...
Posted by myopinion (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I knew Deborah from my previous job and also her job with Community Hospital. She was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. She always had something uplefting to say to those who were down.
My thoughts and prayers go out to her family at this time. I know she is in a much better place!
Posted by kolb (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I met her just a couple of months ago at Community Hospital. She was very nice. We talked of mutual friends. Amidst the tragedies and difficulties of life, our only hope is in God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Posted by thetruthhurts (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 1:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
amen
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
for a correction, she was a valued employee of Natchez Regional Hospital and she was an absolute delight to be around.
Posted by snatchez (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
visitation is tommorow at Parkway Church at 5:00 to 7:00.
Posted by NoWireHangers (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My thoughts and prayers are with the Mizell family. May God bring comfort to your hearts.
Posted by terrpw (anonymous) on January 3, 2008 at 7:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My thoughts and Prayers are with the Mizell Family. May God reach down and comfort your hearts today and for the days to come.
Posted by dnix (anonymous) on January 6, 2008 at 1:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Mom called me yesterday and informed me of the horrible news. Growing up in the Morgantown area, everyone knew the Brewer family. I cannot imagine the pain of the families involved. Although I have not seen Deborah or her family for many years, I have fond memories of times long ago. Having played baseball for Mr. Brewer for a couple of years and having friends in their neighborhood, our paths crossed many times. I, like others, am at a loss for the right words. I have read all of the articles in the paper about Deborah and Glen. It sounds as if Deborah never lost that ability to make people feel better just by being Deborah. I know everyone is praying for the Mizell and Brewer families.
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