Debbie Manganaro

Debbie Manganaro, 67, of Valdosta, GA, passed away Monday, July 6, 2020 after a brief illness. She was born in Valdosta, GA on January 18, 1953 to Salvatore (Ted) and Lillian Chitty Manganaro. Debbie grew up in Valdosta and graduated from Valdosta High School in 1971. She received her BA and Master’s degree from Valdosta State University. She was a licensed professional counselor and worked in behavioral health her entire career of more than 40 years. She also taught Sociology for the South Georgia State College Entry program at VSU for the last 14 years. Her joy and gift was to help people. She truly cared for her clients who were severely mentally ill or facing drug and alcohol problems. Most holidays her table was filled with those who had no other family. She also loved teaching her students who fondly referred to her as “Ms. M”. She loved to help students open their minds to new ways of thinking. She loved working in her yard, traveling with her family and she was an avid reader. Some of her best times were spent as a “rodeo mom” for her daughter Rachael.
Debbie loved Jesus and was saved and baptized in her youth at Lee Street Baptist Church. She was one of the founding members of Cornerstone United Methodist Church where she worked in children and youth ministries and intercessory prayer. She believed in living like Jesus and treated everyone she met with love and respect. She had a perpetually positive attitude even until the last moments of her life. Everyone who knew her was inspired by her vitality, positivity, and eternally optimistic attitude. She could often be found praying for strangers at Walmart or baking cakes for the workers at her local gas station. Her love overflowed to family, friends, and strangers alike.
Debbie is survived by her loving daughters and son in law, Jessica and Myron Crowe of Maryville, TN, and Rachael Thompson of Valdosta, GA and her granddaughter Catherine Crowe of Maryville, TN; special cousins Sheryl Caldwell of Valdosta, GA and Kellie Brogdon of Valdosta; special friend, Marty Bone, of Sparks, GA; and many other special cousins and friends.
A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2020 at Sunset Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hospice of South Georgia, P.O. Box 1727, Valdosta, GA, 31603. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.