Deborah Ruth Elkins, 67 of Laurel, MS passed away Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS. She was born Saturday, April 9, 1955, in Laurel, Mississippi.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023, from 12:30PM until 2:00PM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel, MS. Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 2:00PM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel, MS. Burial will follow in Union Seminary Cemetery in Laurel, MS. Bro. Buddy Jennings and Bro. Jake Phillips will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Laurel is in charge of arrangements. 601-649-3342.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister.  Debbie loved spending time with her family and was a devoted member of the Union Seminary Baptist Church and Sunday school teacher.  She spent many of years living across the United States serving 24 years as an Air Force spouse.  She will be greatly missed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie and Dorothy Bankston Johnson, 2 sisters, Peggy McMullan, Linda Townsend, 1 brother, Charles Wayne Johnson.

Survivors include her husband of 48 years, Ricky Elkins; daughters, Christy Tidwell (Brian), Angela Tanner (Jake), son, Rick Elkins; grandchildren, Landon Elkins, Brody Elkins, Gabrielle Elkins, Grace Tidwell, Ethan Tidwell, Avery Tanner, Audrey Tanner, Dylan Tanner, Lydia Tanner, brother, David Johnson, sisters, Tricia Bankston, JoAnn Campbell (Louis).

Pallbearers will be Michael Townsend, Stephen Johnson, Robby Bankston, Christopher Johnson, Matt Johnson, Nick Johnson, Brian McMullan, Jeremy Campbell, and Jason Campbell.

Honorary pallbearers will be Benjamin Johnson.

An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapellaurel.com