Debra "Debbie" Kay Newby

Debra “Debbie” Newby, née Cousert, 65, of Chesnee, South Carolina, passed away suddenly on Friday, September 25, 2026, while visiting family in Indiana.

Debbie was born April 2, 1961, in Washington, Indiana, to Earl and Bonnie (Wallace) Cousert. She accepted Jesus as her Savior when she was five years old at Vacation Bible School. She grew up throughout Indiana and graduated from Pendleton Heights High School in 1979. Debbie attended Indiana University for two years before getting married and finishing her degree at the University of Michigan, where she studied to be a teacher. She ultimately earned her Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Montreat College in 2014, the culmination of a lifetime of learning.

She married Dale Newby on June 13, 1981, and they shared 45 years together. They met as teenagers at Ovid Community Church and enjoyed travel, visiting museums, touring National Parks together, and serving God through extensive involvement in their local churches.

Debbie loved being a stay-at-home mom with her daughters Michelle and Valerie. She was an active volunteer at her kids’ schools and at church. She worked in children's ministry and as a teacher of all ages, Sunday School Superintendent, church librarian, sang in the choir, taught VBS, served on the missions team, and more. Later she served on the church district Disciplemaking Team and taught seminars at district churches. Then she was appointed to the Christian and Missionary Alliance National Disciplemaking Team.

As her children got older, Debbie transitioned back into paid work that was often a natural extension of her years as a volunteer. She served as a Marketplace Chaplain, and then part time as the National Children's Disciplemaking Consultant for the Alliance. She also worked as an Interpreter at Troy Historical Museum for five years, experience that led to her ultimate career as museum manager. In 2009, Debbie began working full time as Interpretation Manager at the Culture and Heritage Museum. She then worked as Executive Director of Iredell Museums. She loved teaching people new things, designing new exhibits, and developing tools and programs to help visitors expand their knowledge.

God called Dale and Debbie to join Wycliffe Bible Translators in 2014. Debbie served at JAARS as the Director of Museums and Archives for eight years. In 2023, she had one of the best work years of her life as she worked on several major projects to prepare for the 75th birthday of JAARS. Debbie and her museum team updated all the exhibits in the Cardenas building. She helped produce the documentary about JAARS and served on three teams responsible for remodeling the lobby, remodeling the gift shop, and planning the birthday celebration.

Debbie and Dale retired in December 2024 to spend more time with their family, including their children, grandchildren, and Debbie’s mom.

Debbie loved to travel and had visited all 50 states and three countries. She was always reading, often two or three books at once. Debbie loved missionary biographies, murder mystery novels, spy stories, science fiction, and history books. She enjoyed making crafts, sewing, baking, Bible study, and going to the movies. She will be remembered for a deep joyful laugh that carried down hallways; the absolute abundant joy she took in her long awaited grandchildren; her enormous collection of beautiful teapots; and vacation capsule wardrobes of red, white, and blue.

Her greatest desire was to see all of her friends and family come to know Jesus as their Savior.

Debbie is survived by her husband Dale Newby; daughters Michelle Newby and Valerie (Mike) Osby; grandchildren, Oliver and Jennifer Osby; mother Bonnie Cousert; sister Jill (Rick) Brown; siblings-in-law Marilyn Newby, Anita (Mike) Sale, Ron (Becky Troyer) Adams, and Susan Ellsworth; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other beloved relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her father Earl and brother Alan.

A funeral will be held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at Bozell Funeral Homes and Crematory, Brown-Butz-Diedring Chapel, 515 E. 53rd St., Anderson, Indiana. The viewing will take place from 11am-1pm at the funeral home, a service will be held at 1pm, and the burial will follow immediately afterwards at East Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Indiana.

Online condolences may be shared at www.bozellfuneralhomes.com