Deborah Premo August 30, 1954 – May 22, 2026

Deborah Premo of Savannah, Georgia, passed away on May 22, 2026. Born on August 30, 1954, in Savannah to the late Irene Williams, and later gained a wonderful stepfather in Ellis Funderburk. Deborah lived a life defined by deep faith, an unwavering love for her family, and a boundless capacity for friendship.

Deborah was a woman who never met a stranger. To her, friends were simply an extension of her family, the cherished village upon which she built her life. She maintained deep, lifelong relationships from her early childhood until her passing. She loved adventure, helping others, and spending her days working hard for the betterment of her community. Her professional life reflected this dedication; after beginning her early career as an executive administrator for the Army Corps of Engineers, she later proudly served as the Deputy Chief of the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Office of the Department of Defense. Amidst her busy life and career, she also went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Phoenix in 2009.

In her free time, Deborah fully embraced the joy of living. She could often be found enjoying the beach, boating, and pool life. She cherished her time spent with friends, whether sharing dinners and drinks, attending festivals, or simply gathering to celebrate life together. A woman of strong faith, she deeply loved her church groups and treasured the time spent learning and growing alongside the Lord.

Above all else, Deborah loved her family. She was a devoted wife to her husband, Steve Premo, and an incredibly supportive mother and grandmother. She was always genuinely interested in whatever her children and grandchildren were doing, finding her greatest joy in simply being with them and offering her unwavering love and support.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Steve Premo; her son, Paul Cannon, and his wife, Kristin (children Ella, John, and Colt); her step-daughter, Stephanie Hough, and her husband, Brad (children Braden, Vera, Titus, Berrett, and Drew); and her step-daughter, Rachael Knorr, and her husband, Dave (children Marin and Aria).

In addition to her parents, Ellis and Irene Funderburk, Deborah was preceded in death by her brothers, Robert Williams, Dave Williams, and Micheal Williams; and her sister, Doloras Bennett.

Service Details

Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Deborah's life. Both services are open to the public:

• Visitation: Thursday, May 28th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors on Hodgson Memorial.
• Memorial Service: Friday, May 29th, 11:00 AM at Wilmington Island Methodist Church.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Deborah's honor to organizations she cared about:

• Shriners Children's: donate.lovetotherescue.org