Debra "Debbie" Kay Padgett, 66 years old, passed away on 12/30/2024 in her long-time

home town of Zephyrhills, Florida.

Debbie was born on 9/29/1958 in South Bend, Indiana to Donald LeRoy Padgett and

Beverly Doloris Elrod. She and her family moved to Zephyrhills during the summer of 1969.

Debbie attended Zephyrhills High School and was nominated both Homecoming Queen

and Prom Queen of her 1976 graduating class. As quoted in a local 1975 newspaper article, "A

senior who has a lot of school spirit is our pretty Homecoming Queen, Miss Debbie Padgett.

She was chosen as Homecoming Queen on November 7th and even in the downpour of rain,

her beauty beamed overall…but, being Homecoming Queen doesn't stop her from playing her

favorite sport, football. If you weren't at the Powder Puff football game you missed her lightning

speed on defense." A Zephyrhills News article posted on June 10th, 1976 read, "Miss Debbie

Padgett was crowned as Queen of the 1976 Zephyrhills High School Junior-Senior Prom…"

Debbie married Stephen Hays Sullivan on July 1st, 1977 in Crystal Springs, Florida and

became the proud, loving mother to Courtney Lynn Sullivan [Bunner] of Zephyrhills and Jarrett

Hayes Sullivan of Brooksville.

Debbie is survived by: Brother, Dirk Padgett of Alabama (Zephyrhills High School class

of 1975) and his wife Bertha "Bert" Padgett; Daughter, Courtney Lynn Sullivan [Bunner]

(Zephyrhills High School class of 1997); son-in-law Stephen G. Bunner (Zephyrhills High School

class of 1988); grandchildren Savannah Kay Bunner and Kye Foster Bunner; Son, Jarrett Hayes

Sullivan (Wesley Chapel High School class of 2002) and his spouse Melissa Anjelina Garcia

[Sullivan].

She was a dog lover and always had a Pug by her side. After retiring in 2012 from the

Pasco County School Board with 35 years of dedicated service, Debbie could be seen taking

"Tay Tay," "Jake," or "Toby," on "bye bye" rides around town or walks at local parks. Ear rubs

and treats were eagerly accepted with wagging tails!

Debbie enjoyed spending time with her family and two grandchildren. One of her

favorite movies was "Big Momma's House." Once she became a grandmother, she refused to

be called "grandma;" so, her grandkids started calling her "Big Momma;" the nickname stuck

and she was known as "Big Momma" ever since!