Deborah King Molder

Deborah McIver King Molder, 72, resident of Columbia, passed away on July 6th, 2025, surrounded with love from near and afar and in the presence of her husband and two sons.

The family will host a visitation at Columbia First United Methodist Church (Atrium) from 10:00-12:30 p.m., on Thursday, July 10, 2025. A private service will be held with The Rev. Stephen Sauls and The Rev. Eddie Watson officiating and the private burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Deborah was the daughter of the late Thomas Cornelius King and Evelyn Loud Jeffries King. She was also predeceased by a sister, Pamela Jeffries King.

Survivors include her immensely devoted husband, Charles Rickey ‘Rick’ Molder, their 49th wedding anniversary just days away; son King Jeffries (Ester) Molder of Culver City, California; and Charles ‘Chaz’ McIver (Elizabeth) Molder of Columbia, TN.

She is also survived by her three grandchildren, who were the source of much of her will-power during years of physical ailments few could have withstood. Among her last words included questions about ‘her grandchildren’—Marley McIver Molder, Charles Fitzhugh ‘Hugh’ Molder, and Evelyn Elizabeth ‘Bebe’ Molder.

In addition, she is survived by two second cousins, with whom she ensured to maintain contact, Erin Crane of Boulder Creek, California and Bob (Christy) Crane of Houston, Texas.

Deborah was born in New Orleans, Louisiana at Southern Baptist Hospital. Along with her parents and older sister, they moved to what was then a small rural town outside of Atlanta, Georgia—Sandy Springs. From there, her family moved to Miami, Florida, for a brief stint, where she often spoke of their home’s indoor pool, and had photos to prove it. Her family would soon return to Sandy Springs, to the same home as before, on Castleton Drive, a street that she held friends and memories forever dear, most especially Beth (Dr. John) Huff of Nashville, and Jan (David) Davenport of Savannah, Georgia. She was a proud North Springs High Spartan, graduating in 1970.

After graduating high school in Atlanta, she found herself in a ‘small Tennessee town,’ Murfreesboro, at MTSU where she quickly acquired the nickname ‘Debo’ that would stick for a lifetime. She received her B.S. from MTSU in 1974 in Social Work and Psychology.

It was at MTSU she would meet a Shelbyville, TN native in an elective ‘archery’ course, where a seed was planted that would bring a lifetime of experiences and happiness.

After graduating from MTSU, she attended Georgia State University in Atlanta, where she obtained her Associate’s Degree in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse.

In 1976, Deb moved to Columbia for her new husband’s new job that would be the beginning of a new life together. That new life would include children who made her proud, friendships that were fulfilling, and a desire to make her community and her causes better than she found them.

A proud Registered Nurse, following in her mother’s footsteps, she worked in the profession for 40 years with numerous stops along the way—Maury Regional Hospital, NHC where she served as a Social Worker and the Director of Nursing, the Maury County Health Department where she would become the Nursing Supervisor, then completing her public health service at the State of Tennessee Regional Health Office, retiring in a Regional Supervisor capacity.

She was a member of the Columbia First United Methodist Church and the Covenant Sunday School Class. She and her husband joined Columbia First in 1983, during a service that included their new membership and the baptism of their sons, presided over by The Rev. Bob Lewis and The Rev. Michael Williams (deceased). She was proud of Columbia First United Methodist Church, and most particularly the recent resurgence of the Church and the many who were a part of those fruitful efforts.

She was a Member of the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi at MTSU and she was active in their National Alumni Association, where she was a National Officer, later helping organize a local alumni chapter for the Middle Tennessee region.

Quick to make her opinions known, she would write a Letter to the Editor on an issue she felt strongly or speak up at a school board meeting if she felt her voice needed to be heard. She was a staunch supporter of the Maury County Public School System and enjoyed following her sons matriculate through McDowell Elementary School, Whitthorne Middle School and Columbia Central High School, where she was either a class mom or found a way to be known by the class and teachers either way.

She organized local Neighborhood Watch Associations, hosted an annual neighborhood-wide Easter Egg Hunt, which included the ‘bunny’ himself, helped organize the Ronald McDonald ‘House with a Christmas Mouse’ and ensured her children were exposed to as much of the world that she could possibly provide, often times sacrificing her own desires for theirs. Indeed, her children’s interests would become her interests. She was their biggest critic, but their biggest fan and instinctual advisor. She was proud of her sons, and Ester and Liz, and loved them all the same.

The family would like to express their gratitude to everyone who poured out their love and support over the last several days, months and years of Deb’s life. She fought the good fight for so long, emboldened by those whom she loved, and in turn loved her.

The family would also like to thank Valarie Gant and Tracy Cosey—more than just care-givers, friends who became family. And, Dr. J. Cummins Couch, III and Dr. Lucy Ledbetter for their sophisticated medical service and compassionate care.

Pallbearers will be James O. Barr, Andrew C. Broadway, Ricky Broadway Dr. John Huff, William T. Miles, and Dr. Robin Wilhite.

Honorary Pallbearers will be the Columbia First United Methodist Church Covenant Sunday School Class, the ‘original Wednesday night bridge group,’ the Middle Tennessee ADPI Alumni Association, and previous co-workers at the Maury County Department of Health.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Kids Helping Kids, payable to Columbia First United Methodist Church, Attn: Kids Helping Kids, 222 West 7th Street, Columbia, Tennessee 38401.