Anita Paullus Deckelman was born on June 5, 1931 in Cherry Valley, AR.  She moved to Memphis at the age of 13.  She passed away on May 27, 2018 with her family by her side.  Anita was born to the late Grover Rush and Zinnia Campbell Rush.  Anita was also preceded in death by her husband of 23 years, James Vernon Deckelman; brothers, Bud Rush, Clyde Rush, Arnold Rush; and a sister, Joy.  She is survived by a brother, Benny Rush of Heber Springs, AR;  a daughter, Jeannine Scrip of Memphis, TN; and a daughter Denise Carmack of Rosemark, TN; and two sons, Dennis Paullis of Arlington, TN, and Keith Deckelman of Fayette, TN; 7 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.  Anita graduated from Humes High School in 1949 where she was very active.  She was on the Drill Team; she won a writer's award which was published in the local newspaper; and she majored in Art and Cosmetology.  She worked at The Peabody Soda Shop and the Barber Shop, where she gave manicures for 85 cents!  She had several other jobs but she found her glitz in the 1960's where she was a pioneer for women in the business sales field.  She was the first woman to sell Life Insurance for Metropolitan Life.  She excelled at this and won many awards, and she was able to keep her corner office for years due to her high sales.  She loved her job and was good at it for 30 years.  After her husband died, she moved to Kirby Pines Estate where she loved to line dance and socialized with the other residents of the complex.  Visitation for Mrs. Deckelman will be held from 1:00 – 2:00 PM on Friday, June 1, 2018, with funeral services to follow at 2:00 Friday.  Services are entrusted to the care of Forest Hill Funeral Home and Memorial Park, East, 2440 Whitten Road, Memphis, TN, 38133.