Dr. Debbie Drake-Davis, age 52 of Bowling Green, KY, beloved wife, mother, daughter, friend and Franklin KY native, fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2018 at her residence surrounded by her loved ones. Arrangements are under the direction of Gilbert Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 17, 2018 at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church at 4754 Smallhouse Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104.
A private family interment will be at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Bowling Green, KY. Visitation will be from 12:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Friday, November 16, 2018 and from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM Saturday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, of which she was a member. Rosary will be held at 6:00 PM Friday, November 16, 2018 at the church.
Debbie was born August 22, 1966 in Bowling Green, KY to Becky Cook Mayes who survives of Franklin, KY and Johnny Drake who survives of Franklin, KY. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Willie and Rose Bud Cook. She is survived by her husband Michael Davis, a son Nathaniel Rhys Davis of Bowling Green, KY, a daughter Kennedy Grace Davis of Bowling Green, KY, her fur babies Sam and Sally, a brother Brian Drake (Tana) of Bowling Green, KY, 4 nephews and 4 nieces.
Debbie touched the lives of countless people during her amazing life as an active Franklin community member and cardiac caregiver. She was a 1984 graduate of Franklin-Simpson High School and received her BS degree in Nursing from Western Kentucky University. In 1993 she began working at Saint Thomas Hospital Cardiac Catherization Lab in Nashville, TN, but she still had the community of Franklin on her mind.
That year, she conducted a needs assessment of Franklin and found the community in great need of cardiac care. As a result, the Franklin KY Cardiology Clinic, now known as Vanderbilt Heart, was opened under the direction of Dr. Joseph Fredi. Debbie and Dr. Fredi were colleagues for over 25 years exponentially improving the lives of Franklin residents.
In 1998 Debbie was asked to help with the startup of Saint Thomas Cardiology Consultants where she served as Chief Operating Officer, during which time she obtained her Master of Business Administration from David Lipscomb University and her Master of Science Nursing, Adult Nurse Practitioner from Vanderbilt University. In 2010 she received the highest degree in her field, the Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Vanderbilt University. Her final doctorate research involved a heart screening of African-American women of the Alpha and Elevated Baptist Churches in Franklin.
Debbie co-authored with Dr. Fredi an article published in the prestigious St. Thomas Medical Journal on discoveries of women’s heart symptoms that differ from men’s, was an Adjunct Instructor in Nursing for Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Assistant in Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN. Debbie was awarded the Woman of Achievement Award from the Franklin Business and Professional Women in 2006 and inducted into the Franklin-Simpson Hall of Fame in 2017. During Debbie’s induction ceremony is was stated that appreciative patients likened Debbie to the old time medical professionals who would ride out in horse and buggy to make a call and in fact she did make house calls.
Debbie was a member of the Allied Health Professionals of the American College of Cardiology, Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society, Business and Professional Women’s Club-Franklin KY division and Rotary Club-Franklin KY division. When Debbie was not caring for her heart patients, she spent time with her husband, Michael, running, traveling and visiting with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Debbie’s wishes were for donations to be made to The Healing Net Foundation at 200 Hill Ave, S. Suite, Nashville, TN 37210 (thehealingnet.org) or to your local Humane Society.
Online condolences may be made at www. gilbertfhonline.com.
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