Mrs. Donna Joye Baldwin's Obituary
Donna Joye Mays Baldwin was born on February 7, 1938, and died on May 29,2023 from Alzheimer’s. Donna moved frequently in her childhood living primarily in Kentucky. She graduated as valedictorian from Wingo High School in Wingo, Kentucky in 1956. She married John Walter Baldwin on August 15, 1956. They enjoyed 66 years of marriage together. Donna spent most of her adult life as a wife and mother enjoying taking care of her husband and boys. For several years she worked at the Riverwood Church of Christ Day School. She taught Bible classes at Riverwood for decades eventually ending that role in 2020. She loved to bake, and she loved to share her baked goods. One of her specialties was banana nut bread and she would share this with family, friends, doctors, and neighbors. Donna was an encourager. She primarily encouraged through the written word. She would write letters and notes to encourage and share. Hundreds of notes written each year of her life provided encouragement to the recipients. Donna loved to sing. As a teenager she sang at weddings and other events. Her love of music permeated her home. Her house is filled with tapes, CDs, and albums. Donna loved hymns and Southern Gospel music as well – The Imperials and The Gaithers among her favorites.
Donna was proud to be one of the children of Neville and Thelma Mays. She grew up in a loving family and came to know and love Jesus through them. She was the oldest of four siblings. She often told stories particularly about her brother Kent who was the second born. They shared their childhood together through thick and thin. Her younger siblings, Lana and Ron, were so precious to her. She loved them all dearly.
For 66 years she shared life with John. They shared the ups and downs of marriage. Together they raised two sons and welcomed two daughters by marriage. As their family grew with grandchildren, Donna delighted in spending time with them. Their years of marriage provided lots of opportunities to affirm their love for each other and to learn to love through challenges.
Donna is survived by her husband John, her son Jon and his wife Cindy, and her son Dana and his wife Barbara. She reveled in her four grandchildren: Kyle, Danielle, Spenser, and Maria and found great delight in her great-grandchildren: Garrett, Braxton, Ellis, Cullen, Olivia, Sadie, and Presley. Her brother Kent passed away in 2020. She dearly loved her siblings Lana and her husband Howard and Ron and his wife Mary, and Kent’s wife, Malinda. Her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family were very special to her.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 1, from 12 pm until 2 pm at Riverwood Church of Christ 1904 McGavock Pike in Nashville. A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 2 pm. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park.
Donna loved God and her faith was deep. Her love for family found its fullest expression because of her love for God. To God be the glory.
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