Deborah Suzanne Graves

Deborah Piper Graves, age 71, of Cottontown, Tennessee, passed away on October 23, 2024, following a hard-fought battle with kidney disease. Twice she was a grateful recipient of a donor’s generous gift of a kidney, one of those quietly and voluntarily given by her son, Clint, our hero, affectionately renamed, “Superman,” by his Aunt Tribby and then the entire family.

She was a wonderfully dedicated wife to her adoring husband, Richard, for fifty-two blessed years and was a loving mother to their sons, J. R. and Clint. Deborah was a grand-mother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister by blood and by marriage, and great friend to many. She was an especially dedicated servant of Christ whose love for God was her top priority. She will be deeply missed by so many, but she leaves beautiful memories and love that will last forever.

Deborah Suzanne (Piper) Graves was born on October 17, 1953 in Gallatin, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents James Harold and Betty Sue (Sloan) Piper of Gallatin; sister, Melva Black (Jerry) of Gallatin; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Gladys and Reuben Graves of Portland. She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Graves; sons James Reuben (J. R.) Graves of Castalian Springs and Richard Clint Graves of Gallatin; granddaughters Kyra Graves of Gallatin and Taegan Graves of Goodlettsville; great-grandchildren, Tempest, Elian, Alani, and Alaya Graves; sisters Sandra Mayberry (Bennie) of Gallatin and Lisa Balkon (Dave) of Hendersonville; many nieces and nephews as well as an extended family of sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law who embraced her as their own.

Deborah graduated from Gallatin High School in 1971 and shared her joy of singing with others in chorus, school musicals, and at Salem Methodist Church where she was a lifelong member. Over the years, she loved singing with others in several Gallatin Lions Club musical theater shows.

On January 29, 1972, she married Richard Graves of Portland, and they had fifty-two happy and fulfilling years together. Deborah worked in the law office of attorney Bobby Goodall where she was adored and treated like family. Following Mr. Goodall’s retirement, she worked for twenty years as chief deputy clerk for Sumner County General Sessions Court where she was respected and loved by co-workers and the community. She retired early to spend more time with her cherished granddaughters. When her life was affected by kidney disease, Richard was her rock and ran the race with her, constantly by her side. No matter how tired she may have been, she would always perk up with a visit, text, or video from her endearing great-grandchildren. 

Deborah loved being in nature and raising her sons with Richard on their peaceful property in Cottontown, riding horses, watching Clint play baseball, and listening to J. R. sing and play the guitar. She took pride in working hard in her beautiful garden and sharing plants and flowers with others. She especially enjoyed building memories in East Tennessee and hiking when the mountains called her. She cherished her beloved and charming Buckhorn Inn with its Lenten roses, artfully prepared food, and sacred-feeling Smokey Mountains. She took pleasure in sharing the verse, “He touches the mountains and they smoke” from Psalm 104:32.

In Hebrew, the name Deborah means bee(s) which were often used to represent God’s blessings of love and strength. Her parents named her well! In her last days especially, it was the toughest love and strength these eyes have ever witnessed. I like to imagine her in Heaven wearing that ultra-soft, white robe from the Buckhorn that she loved so much, warmly wrapped in the arms of Jesus. Someday she will run with no barriers to greet us with open arms, and we will all be home again! Well done, God’s good and faithful servant, blessed daughter of the Most High King! Well done!

Visitation with the family will be held to honor Mrs. Graves on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Crestview Funeral Home and Memory Gardens in Gallatin, Tennessee. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Memory Garden, with Brother John Briley officiating. Online condolences may be submitted on Crestview’s website. In lieu of flowers, you may make donations to the National Kidney Foundation.