Debra Ann Schrodt

Debra A. Schrodt, more commonly known as Deb or Debbie Schrodt, was born on November 13, 1960 in Hillsboro, Illinois. She was the second of four children born from the union of Reverend Calvin and Margie Schrodt and was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, where she graduated from ECS High School. She was a singer, songwriter, and musician since the age of 17 and excelled as a solo artist at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis throughout her teen years and performed in the Singing Christmas Tree, the 4th of July Spectacular, and in Living Pictures. Her choir membership and the leadership of Dr. Adrian Rogers and Dr. Jim Whitmire inspired her to pursue a career in music.

Debbie later attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received a degree in Vocal Performance with emphasis on Music Business and subsequently worked for MCA Records in Nashville where she provided marketing and sales support to the label’s many talented country music artists.

Debbie’s nights in Nashville were spent writing her own songs and performing in a variety of venues, including multiple appearances with other songwriters at the Bluebird Cafe, various other music clubs, coffee houses, restaurants, and major hotels. She later moved to the MCA Pop/R&B Division based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she continued to write and perform her original songs in similar venues.

Debbie has performed for crowds of all sizes and always charmed audiences and spiritual congregations with her warmth, wit, and honesty. She spoke of being very proud to open for multiple popular motivational speakers, including Carolyn Myss, Marianne Williamson, Edwene Gaines, and Dr. Sue Morter, and she felt privileged to share the stage with other popular new thought artists, such as Faith Rivera, Daniel Nahmod, J.D. Martin, Jan Garrett, and others. In her words, “Music is and always will be my heart and my art.”

Debbie served as a music minister at Unity of the Tri-Cities in Johnson City, Tennessee before joining Unity North Atlanta in Marietta, Georgia, where she worked in administration, marketing, and music ministry for several years. Debbie later became the Minister of Music with One World Spiritual Center in Roswell, Georgia; however, she left that position to devote her time and attention to caring for her wife, Bambi A. Bloom, who succumbed to Early Onset Alzheimer’s in 2018.

Debbie found unexpected happiness in a new relationship and re-discovered her love of songwriting and music after being apart from it for years. She appeared frequently in multiple new thought churches in the Atlanta area and was excited to release a self-produced EP of spiritual songs of faith and healing in 2018. She married her current spouse, Terry Hamrick, in September 2019. In that same year, she completed the required courses to obtain her certification as a Licensed Unity Teacher in 2019. She had plans to complete the ministerial intensives in 2020; however, those plans were pushed back due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to the outbreak of the virus, however, she was finally able to fulfill her lifelong dream of having one of her albums of original spiritual songs produced and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, where her musical career began. The album, Can You Imagine, was released in March of this year.

Debbie passed away from a sudden illness on July 20, 2020 in Cumming, Georgia. She is survived by her loving spouse, her beloved mother, and siblings, Daree Pabody (Jon) of Fairbault, MN, Sharolyn Hassell (Wade) of Moscow, TN, and David Schrodt (Katy) of Lexington, SC, multiple nieces and nephews, and many devoted friends.

A memorial service to honor her is being planned; however, due to current Covid restrictions, the date, location, and time is yet to be determined.

Condolences may be expressed at www.mcdonaldandson.com.

Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 886.9899

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