Donna Washington

Donna Jean Washington, of Toledo, Ohio and Dunnellon, Florida, was born January 1, 1933, in Toledo, Ohio, to the union of Lawrence H. Ellis, Sr. and Jean E. White. She departed this life March 3, 2011, at the Legacy House Hospice in Ocala, Florida. Donna, along with her siblings Lawrence, Jr., Connie, Norma and half-siblings, Beverly, Patricia, and Ruth-Ann, grew up in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated from Jesup W. Scott High School in 1951 then attended Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. In 1952, Donna married Joe N. Powell and from this union, became mother to Michael Daniel, Gerald Nathan, Keith Dana, and Kenneth Wayne and step-mother to Evelyn. She married Harvey Washington in 1977 and became step-mother to Keith, Gina, Craig (Charlotte), Kenneth, Jewel, Todd, and Tony. She went to work for the City of Toledo in the Water Department then advanced to become the first female and African - American to supervise Data Processing Operations. Donna was baptized at St. Paul Baptist Church in 1945. She continued her church membership by joining Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church in 1953. While residing at her winter home, Donna was an active member at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church. In 1999, Donna and Harvey made Spruce Creek Preserve their permanent winter home. She was a member of the Negro Business and Professional Women's Organization, Block Club 15 of Toledo, OH, and a union steward while employed by the City of Toledo. In Florida, she was an active Red-Hatter, member of the Cosmopolitans of Ocala, and the New Covenant 50 Plus Ministry. She was adored by her grandchildren and extended family. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harvey; her parents, Lawrence H. Ellis, Sr. and Jean E. Chambers; step-father, Allen Chambers; sister, Connie Marshall; brother, Lawrence H. Ellis, Jr.; step-sons, Keith Washington and Kenneth Rivers, and close friend and father of her sons, Joe N. Powell. She leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Michael (Michael Wyngaert) of Akron, OH, Gerald, Keith, and Kenneth Powell; step-children: Evelyn Jackson, of Homewood, IL, Craig (Charlotte), Todd, and Jewel Washington, Gina Wimberly, and Tony Rivers; Sister, Norma (Herbert) Blanchard; half-sisters, Beverly Session, Patricia (James) Dula, and Ruth-Ann (Angus) Brown; grandchildren, Tiffanie McNair, Taylar Powell, Blaine (Juanita) Jackson, Sr., of Pottstown, PA., Aaron (Cynthia) Wimberly, of Biloxi, MS, Antonio, Alan-Michael, and Micah Washington, Nikita (Solomon) Oyeyemi, of Cincinnati, OH, and Loyon Charles; great - grandchildren, Kyan Lawrence, Blaine Jackson, Jr., Nia Oyeyemi, and Mariah and Jeremiah Wimberly, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Visitation will be Friday 6-8p.m. at Dale-Riggs Funeral Home wake services will be Saturday 11:00 a.m. followed by funeral services at12:00 noon. Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church 565 Palmwood, internment at Historic Woodlawn Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Harvey and Donna Washington Scholarship Fund at New Covenant Missionary Baptist Church 606 Southwest Broadway Street Ocala, Florida 34475. www.dalefh.com