Debra Gail Mellor, 55, of Columbia, died Thursday, December 1, 2016 at home and was received into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Born on March 4, 1961 in Frankfurt, Germany, while her father served in the US Army, she was the daughter of Floyd Collins Mellor and Christine Hunter Mellor. She attended Pensacola, Florida schools. With a love of children and teaching, Debbie graduated from University of West Florida with a BA in Early Elementary Childhood Education in 1984 and later received her MA in Teaching from Columbia International University in 1993. She also loved serving overseas as a homeschool teacher in Japan and in Germany and summer missions working with children in India.

Debbie taught First Grade in Christian schools in Pensacola FL, Hopewell, VA and later public schools in the Columbia-Lexington area, Hyatt Park Elementary and then 6th Grade Language Arts at White Knoll Middle School, retiring in 2012. She loved being a part of First Baptist Church Columbia, especially teaching the International Class.

Survivors include her brother, Roy (Robyn) Mellor of Sumter and her aunt, Clarice Hillman of Livingston, AL. Dear friends, like family, Dr. Charles T. (Mary Ann) McElmurray of Blythewood and their five children, who were like her own, Sarah, Mary, and Ruth McElmurray of Blythewood, Anna McElmurray of Orange City, IA, and Ben McElmurray of Hot Springs, AR. Her cats, Yoda and Shotze, were her faithful companions.

During her battle with colon cancer, Debbie was supported by family and many friends in the states and in Germany, England, and Switzerland. A special thank you to her teachers at White Knoll school, the ladies of the Tuesday morning Bible Study at First Baptist Church, devoted friends, and neighbors. Many thanks to the staff at Lexington Oncology including Dr. Steven Madden, Paula Cox, Paige Price, and Deana Lovette and Hospice Care of South Carolina.

The funeral service for Ms. Mellor will be held at 1 o'clock, Saturday, December 3rd at First Baptist Church, Boyce Chapel, with the Rev. Richard A. Humphries and Pastor Tommy Hutto officiating. Burial will follow in Crooked Run Baptist Church Cemetery, Winnsboro. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 12 o'clock. Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, is assisting the family.

The family suggests memorials be made to International Ministry, First Baptist Church, PO Box 1000, Columbia, SC 29202.