Deborah Ann Landes

Deborah Ann Landes passed away on September 16, 2025, at the age of 71. Debbie was born on May 21, 1954, in the small town of Bucyrus, Ohio (the Bratwurst Capital of the World), the daughter of the late Willard Lynn “Soc” Landes and the late Patricia Ann Olsen Landes. She was the oldest of five children and, after the early death of her father, stepped in as an adult in the household to help her mother care for her younger siblings.
Debbie attended Clarkston High School, graduating in the Class of 1972, where she excelled academically. She participated in the DeKalb Honors Program and the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in French. She was a member of the Debate Team, Beta Club, and National Honor Society, and served as statistician for the Cross Country, Wrestling, and Girls’ Basketball teams. Following high school, Debbie attended Emory University, earning a degree in Foreign Languages with a specialization in French. She then pursued graduate studies in Foreign Language at the Paris campus of NYU.
From the age of 18 until last year, at age 70, Debbie worked tirelessly, often holding down two jobs at once. Her first job during college was waitressing at Shoney’s Big Boy, known for its burgers, strawberry pie, and hot fudge cake. She loved interacting with customers, though she was less fond of the brown, orange, and yellow uniform she had to wear. Debbie’s first “real” job after college was teaching English and Spanish at Heritage High School in Conyers, Georgia, where she met her partner and husband of 47 years, Dennis Stewart. From their first date, a pizza dinner and a high school basketball game, they were each other’s number one.
After teaching, Debbie worked in the insurance industry for many years at Pacific Mutual while also serving as a sales representative at Macy’s Drapery Department and as an office assistant at Dr. Rick’s medical practice in Atlanta. During this time, she became involved in many events supporting the LGBTQ and deaf communities. Her relationships with members of the deaf community inspired her to master a third language, American Sign Language. While training for her certification as a Deaf Interpreter, Debbie joined the Crusselle-Freeman Church of the Deaf music program. Upon completing her certification,
she became a certified interpreter for the deaf at the IRS, where she remained until her retirement.
Debbie loved life and had the gift of gab. She made friends easily and connected with people from all walks of life. Devoted to her family and friends, she cherished going out for meals and spending quality time with them. She was passionate about many things and pursued whatever captured her interest. Debbie was an avid reader, enjoying authors such as Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the Outlander series, and reading Gone with the Wind multiple times. Her reading fueled two favorite pastimes: watching Jeopardy! and participating in local trivia nights.
Debbie loved the ballet, with Rudolf Nureyev as her all-time favorite dancer. In her mid-thirties, she took tap dance classes at Dance Works, performing in the final recital because she had always wanted to dance. Music was one of her greatest passions. She loved listening to it and attending concerts. Her favorite musicians included Jimmy Buffet, James Taylor, John Mayer, and the Eagles, though her ultimate favorite was Bryan Adams. Her car license plate read “BestBryFan,” and she traveled far and wide to attend his concerts, including trips to Texas, Ohio, New York, and Canada.
Debbie had many interests. She was once passionate about sailing, training in Annapolis so she could crew on trips off the coast of Florida and in the Caribbean. She was also an avid Georgia Tech fan, attending football, basketball, and volleyball games with her husband and friends. She enjoyed traveling to new destinations and was a true foodie. France was her favorite country, but she loved any beach trip or cruise. She had favorite restaurants and always enjoyed a Diet Coke (20 oz plastic bottle only!). Debbie loved all animals, especially cats, and found comfort snuggling with them on the couch while watching television. She was a dedicated shopper and enthusiastic Amazon customer. Debbie looked forward to her visits with her hair stylist, Mitchell Barnes. He maintained her strawberry blonde color for 50 years! Debbie also loved fine jewelry and admired the artistry of jewelry designer Kat Florence who sent her birthday flowers every year in appreciation of her loyalty as a customer.
Debbie deeply loved her family and friends, always asking after those she had not seen in a while and putting thought into the gifts she gave them. She was preceded in death by her parents, Soc and Pat Landes, and her sister-in-law, Karin Landes (Kirk). She is survived by her husband, Dennis Stewart; her sisters, Kim Manget (John), Tracey DeNardis (Mark), and Debi Warrick; her brothers, Marc Landes (Sheri) and Kirk Landes; nieces Callie Garcia (Franklin), Shelby Landes, Sydney Landes, Lyles Prine, and Lexi Prine; nephews Will Manget (Kristin) and Koy Manget (Steffi); great-nieces Margie Garcia, Mia Garcia, Eva Garcia, Cooper Manget, Quinn Manget, Lochlan Manget; and great-nephew Mac Manget.
Debbie embraced life fully and welcomed new experiences. Please celebrate her memory by wearing joyful, tropical colors to the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (Attn. Volleyball Team), 890 North Indian Creek Drive, Clarkston, GA 30021, or to the Good Mews Animal Foundation at goodmews.org.