WILMINGTON — Debra Joan Mullins, 71, passed away on August 7, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina, after a brief but fierce battle with lung cancer.
Born on July 8, 1955, in Allegan, Michigan, Debra built a life centered around the people and things she loved most—her family, her home, and the little things that made everyday life special.
Anyone who knew Debra knew how much she loved her home. She liked things clean, tidy, and in their place, and she took pride in making her home beautiful and welcoming. She loved to shop, especially when she could find something perfect to add to her seasonal decorations. With every changing season and holiday came another opportunity for Debra to transform her home and make it feel special.
The kitchen was another place where Debra was happiest. She loved experimenting with recipes and trying something new. Sometimes it became a family favorite, and sometimes it simply became a story to laugh about later—but she was always willing to try.
More than anything, Debra loved her family. She was a mother, grandmother, sister, and a constant presence in the lives of those closest to her. The ordinary moments shared with her—the conversations, meals, shopping trips, holidays, laughter, and time spent together—are now some of the memories her family will treasure most.
Debra is survived by her son Boyd Ray Mullins and his wife, Elizabeth, of Leland, North Carolina, and their children, Patrick Ray, Reyanna Beth, Railynn Sue, and Reiden Grundy; her son Clay Mullins and his wife, Brandy, of Joplin, Missouri, and their daughter, Sydalee; her sisters, Carolyn Davis and family of Newport, Arkansas, and Donna Peacoe of Thomasville, Georgia; as well as extended family and friends who loved her dearly.
Debra was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd Redd; her mother, Marie Ellen (Sexton) Redd; her brother, Lloyd E. Redd; and her sister, Linda Crawford.
Debra’s battle with lung cancer was brief, but she faced it fiercely. It took her from us much sooner than we were ready to let her go, and there simply wasn’t enough time to say everything we wanted to say or share all the moments we thought we still had ahead of us.
We will miss the things that were unmistakably Mom—the tidy house, the seasonal decorations, the shopping, the experiments in the kitchen, and all those little habits and routines that we probably never realized we would someday miss so much.
As the seasons change, there will always be reminders of her. A decoration she would have loved. A recipe she would have wanted to try. Something in a store that would have made us immediately think, “Mom would buy that.” Those are the moments when we will smile, remember, and wish she were still here to share them with us.
Her life continues in her sons, her grandchildren, and in the memories and traditions she gave to all of us.
We love you, Mom. We will miss you more than words can say, and we will carry you with us always.
