Deborah Druwilla "Dru" Milligan

Deborah Druwilla "Dru" Milligan, age 67 of Franklin, TN, passed away October 15, 2026. She was born in Sparta, TN to the late Kenneth and Mildred Reeves Milligan on New Years Eve, 1958 and their lives were blessed by Dru's birth.

Dru is lovingly survived by her husband of 22 years, Joseph “Joe” A. Otterpohl, and their cherished dog, Nubbins, of Franklin, Tennessee. She leaves behind her stepdaughters, Amy Connor (Shaun Connor) of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Laura Otterpohl (Stas Zvegilsky) of Kazakhstan; and her treasured bonus grandchildren, Cameron and Colin Connor, and Leah, Ron, Eli, and Maya Zvegilsky. She is also survived by her beloved godchild, Lauren McKinney, who held a special place in her heart.

Dru was a woman of exceptional elegance, grace, and sophistication. She embodied the finest qualities of a true lady, carrying herself with impeccable manners, thoughtful judgment, and a deep appreciation for poise, refinement, and doing things the right way. Beauty was certainly one of her gifts, but it was her presence, her standards, and her natural sense of class that made her truly memorable.

Dru's childhood was happy and full of good times on Allen Drive and bike rides with her close friends Louann, Sherry and Cindy. She was a cheerleader, voted the friendliest girl at her high school, won Miss White County Fairest of the Fair in 1977 and then proceeded to attend and graduate from Tennessee Tech University where she met many life long friends.

A beauty queen in her own right, Dru competed in numerous pageants throughout her life, earning many titles and consistently placing among the highest-ranking contestants. Her passion for the pageant world grew into a distinguished career in which she became not only a competitor, but also a mentor, judge, coach, and director. She devoted herself to helping young women develop their confidence, polish their talents, and realize their dreams.

Dru was a distinguished sales and marketing leader for Bank of America in Tennessee serving as the training manager over commercial and private banking. She created, designed, developed and delivered important programs that supported associates across multiple levels of the organization and positively influenced their personal and professional development and success. She left her successful banking career after many years to run the business affairs for her husband's dental practice where they could be closer together and continue to build a wonderful life.

Dru and her husband, Joe shared a beautiful life filled with love, laughter, and a passion for experiencing life together. They loved traveling and exploring new places, discovering wonderful food, and spending time in the kitchen cooking and creating memories. More than anything, they treasured the simple joy of being together, finding happiness in each other’s company and in the everyday moments they shared. Their love was reflected in the life they built together, and the memories they created will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.

Dru was a generous supporter and passionate and committed volunteer leader in our community. Dru was one of the founding board members of the Patricia Hart Society of the United Way of Williamson County that helped to inspire hope and create opportunities for a better life for all in our community. She served as its board chair and a co-chair of the annual fundraising luncheon to support programs benefitting women and children. Dru was a passionate advocate for dog and cat rescue organizations too numerous to mention.

Dru and Joe together were involved in the founding of the Heimerdinger Foundation to honor their dear friend, Mike, and to support and nourish cancer patients through the power of healthy meals and nutrition education.

Through every stage of her life, Dru brought the same qualities that defined her personally: elegance, discipline, impeccable standards, and a genuine commitment to helping others shine. Above all, she will be remembered as a woman who understood that true beauty was never simply about appearance, but also about grace, character, and the way one carries oneself through life.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, followed immediately by a Celebration of Life service at 3:00pm at First Presbyterian Church, located at 4815 Franklin Pike in Nashville, Tennessee. A private burial will take place beforehand at Williamson Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Troy Hovden, Tim Milligan, Gary Axford, Biff Irving, Rob McKinney, Robin McKinney and Joe McKinney, who will honor Dru and assist in laying her to rest. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dru’s honor to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah or First Presbyterian Church in Nashville.

WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com