Donna Jean Benedict

Donna Jean Burandt Benedict, 86, of Birmingham, Alabama, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, August 27, 2021. Born in Waconia, Minnesota, to Walter and Esther Burandt in 1935, Donna spent her school years in Mound, earned her diploma in nursing from Swedish Memorial Hospital in Minneapolis, studied Bible at Northwestern Bible College in Roseville, and then accompanied her husband Reagan to Dallas, Texas where he attended seminary. They then devoted their life’s work to church planting and pastoring in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Chicago, Illinois; Manahawkin, New Jersey; and Birmingham, Alabama.

Donna was a diligent Bible reader and shared her husband’s passion for the clarity and simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An avid gardener, accomplished cook, and capable hostess, she and Reagan enjoyed entertaining regularly. Her delicious healthy meals facilitated many conversations around the dinner table. Many discussions were prompted by thought-provoking questions about the Scriptures, such as,

What are the 3 things God cannot do as outlined in John 3:16?

1. God cannot love us anymore than He does – He loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son.

2. God cannot make our response any easier than He already has – to believe.

3. God cannot give us a greater gift than the one He has already given us – the gift of eternal life.

John 6:47 “Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.”

Donna was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Richard Reagan Benedict. She is survived by their 2 daughters, Kara (Blaine) Bishop and Sara (Dennis) Stuart; 7 grandchildren – John, Nathan (Alex), Luke (Sarah) and Anna Bishop; Kathleen (Tucker) Cowie, Tierney (Garrett Jackson fiancé) and Emma Stuart; and 1 great grandson – Judah Bishop; as well as family and friends across the country.

A memorial celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 11:00am in the conference center at Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Vestavia, Alabama.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Donna’s memory to Unless U (737 Chestnut Street, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216 or online at unlessu.org) where her grand-daughter Anna is a student. The mission of Unless U is to provide a place where adults with developmental disabilities can build skills to grow their independence. When Anna enrolled as a student, Donna was so excited, and the family would be most grateful to see Donna remembered in this way.