Debra Sue Ray Sampieri, 62, of Athens died Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Vanderbilt Hospital after an extended illness. She was born April 29, 1952, in Huntsville, to Gordon and Ruth Ray.
A celebration of life event for family and friends will be held Sunday, June 1, from 2-6 p.m. at her home. Madison Chapel is handling arrangements.
Debra was a graduate of Sparkman High School Class of 1970. Her job was a senior support manager for TriNovus Systems. 
These background details do not adequately describe her, however.
Debra’s family knew her as a woman of the kitchen, where she enjoyed making cookies for vacation Bible schools and cakes for birthday parties and weddings with the help of her cousin Carol Fincher. Debra found excitement in trying out new recipes, cooking sweets for friends and family for Christmas Eve, and having cookouts for her family, where she prepared food to feed 50 people even though less than 10 were in attendance. “Take the leftovers with you. I don’t want anything left here,” was a frequent refrain heard after these gatherings, and she had plenty of Cool-Whip bowls and Ziploc bags to send home goodies.
Being with family was Debra’s favorite way to spend her time. Each year she diligently researched beach homes and meticulously planned a beach vacation for her family. She bought out Publix prior to the trip so that her children would have to pack any empty nook and cranny in their vehicles with food and snacks. 
Her favorite role was as Nana to her three grandchildren. She believed Nana was supposed to spoil the children by buying them more toys than they could play with, feeding them their favorite treats, and letting them destroy the house as long as they were having fun.
Debra also loved laughter, as evidenced by her request that her obit contain the statement, “According to her driver license, she was 5-foot 7-inches and 135 pounds. “
She is survived by her mother, Ruth Ray; her children, Jennifer Janzen and husband Wendell Janzen of Madison; and Justin Sampieri and wife Jennifer Hilton Sampieri of Athens; three grandchildren, Allie Janzen of Madison; Tyler Sampieri of Athens; and EllaGrace “Sissy” Sampieri of Athens; one brother, Jim Ray of Oxford; and those she loved as children, Holly Hollman of Athens; Misty Frazier Frances of Waterloo; and Kim Hall Yang of Yonkers, NY. 
She was preceded in death by her father Gordon Ray.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gift cards be sent to Limestone County Department of Human Resources for its Christmas program for children in DHR care. Please send the gift cards to Limestone County DHR c/o Jennifer White, 1007 W. Market St., Athens, AL 35611. Donations can also be made to Coxey Church of Christ to replace vacation Bible school materials lost in the April 28 tornadoes. Send donations to Coxey Church of Christ, c/o Holly Hollman, 10495 U.S. 72 West, Athens, AL 35611.