Donald Lee Stinson

Don’s time on earth ended on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2020. We can think of no better day for him to go into the arms of Jesus, other than this day of love. Don was 88 years old. He was born in Monroe County Frisco City, Alabama on Nov. 6, 1931, the oldest of a family of nine children to Chester & Dottie Stinson. Chester was a tenant farmer who later became a Methodist Minister. The family purchased a 120 acre farm in Santa purchased acre farm in Santa Rosa County, FL and moved there when Don was 10 years old. The children attended Chumuckla School where Don graduated in 1950. After high school he received a working scholarship to Berry College and graduated with a B.A. Degree in 1954. In Juned 1954 he married his college sweetheart, Grace Mitchell. They later had two daughters, Gina and Sharon Stinson.

In 1954 Don went into the military and was assigned to schooling at the Old Japanese Naval Academy in Iwo Jima Japan. After graduating from the academy he was assigned to the United Nations Command, Military Armistice Commission, Korea. While being a member of the Commission his team met with the North Koreans on several occasions in an effort to resolve issues of the peace agreement. Don was honored recently in June 2013 to be invited by the Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, to Washington D.C. to attend ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement of 1953. Don and Grace spent 3 days in Washington D.C. attending different activities including a speech by the President Barrack Obama.

After his military Service he entered graduate school at Florida State University and graduated with a Master’s degree in education in 1963. His career in education was mostly in Escambia County, FL at Ferry Pass Middle School, Pensacola High School and Woodham High School. Most of his time was at Woodham High School as the Assistant Principal. After retiring from the Florida School System he became the Principal of Evergreen City School in Evergreen, AL. After serving 3 years at City School, Don retired and became active in volunteer charity work. He and a brother purchased a farmstead, Booker’s Mill, with about 200 acres of property in Conecuh County. Don began to rebuild and develop the old place back into the Colonial look. Because of his efforts, he and Grace received the highest award for the reclamation of private land ownership in the state of Alabama, The Helene Mosely Award given by the Alabama Treasure Forest Association. Don became an Alabama Treasure Forest Association board member where he served 6 years. He organized the first Treasure Forest Association in Conecuh County.

Don is a Strong Believer in family. Since 1982 he has hosted an Annual Family reunion at the Booker’s Mill property. Don was a great husband, a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather! He was loved by a host of his children’s friends who affectionately called him “Daddy Don”. Don was an active member of Cokesbury United Methodist Church. He was President of Emerald Coast Berry College Alumni Council. Don enjoyed making other people happy. He loved god’s beautiful creation – the great outdoors! He enjoyed landscaping in Evergreen. He loved people! He enjoyed playing cards with his friends. Don could make you laugh during a most somber moment. He was a person you enjoyed being around.

Don was preceded in death by his mother Dottie Stinson, his father Chester Stinson, his brother Winston Stinson, his daughter Gina Stinson, and his grandson Zack Stinson. He is survived by his wife Grace Stinson, his daughter Sharon Stinson Palmer, his son-in-law Tony Palmer, and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

We love you and are going to miss you “Daddy Don”