Essie Donald

Published 12:01 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

VIDALIA — Services for Essie Donald, 88, of Vidalia, will be 1 p.m. today at First Baptist Church in Vidalia with the Rev. Dr. Ralph Webber and the Rev. Wes Faulk officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home in Vidalia.

Mrs. Donald was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Vidalia, where she taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school for more than 50 years. She was also active in WMU and a member of the Vidalia Garden Club. She was owner and operator of Donald Camper Village and served the community any way she could. She loved traveling with her children and grandchildren, seeing the world.

Mrs. Donald was preceded in death by her parents, Nat and Effie Taylor; her husband, Johnnie Lee Donald Sr.; one grandson, Joseph Higgins; and one great-grandson, Jonah Parker.

Survivors include two sons, Johnnie L. Donald Jr. and wife, Brenda, of Vidalia, and Gerard Donald and wife, Regina, of Baton Rouge; two daughters, Pam Higgins and husband, Jimmy, and Teressa Reynolds and husband, Eddie, all of Vidalia; nine grandchildren, Jim Higgins, Miranda Thibodeaux, Natalie Creel, Glen Donald, Rod Donald, Johnnie Ladd Donald, Jerry New, Keisha Fitt and Rebecca Parker; three sisters, Bonnie Ramsey of Columbus, Ga., Joy McCulloch of Willis, Texas, and Jeri Booth of Houston; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jim Higgins, Glen Donald, Rod Donald, Ryan Thibodeaux, Jared Parker, David New, Billy Wayne Fitt and Johnnie Ladd Donald.

Honorary pallbearers will be Clair Shields, Jay Welch, Tommy Probst, Ken Young, Jamie Lawrence, Whest Shirley, Pat Gallaway, Pat Biglane and Vic Dalaillio.

The family extends special thanks to Charla Knapp, Brenda Campbell, Jessi, Grace, Irene and Penny and the staff of Camellia Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent to youngfh.com.