Don was born in East Atlanta on September 4, 1934, and was raised by his mother, Willie Travis Anderson. He had one beloved sister Betty Jean Slappey who predeceased him. Don graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1953 before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War.
In the military, he served basic training 1st BN. 1st Ting. Regt. Plt.2 Fort Jackson, SC; then 1st Aviation Company 1st Infantry Division Fort Riley, KA then 179 AFA BN 48th Division Fort Stewart, GA and finally 647th Engineering Company Fort Benning, GA.
In 1955, Don met the love of his life, Jane Mooneyham while throwing her AJC paper. He had seen her before; he lived next door to her Uncle Reuben and Aunt Gertrude Mooneyham. Excited to start their new lives together, the two were married in June of 1959 after Jane graduated from Murphy High School.
Don and Jane could not wait to start a family of their own, and their four children kept them busy. Patti, Donnie, Danny and Daron. They have been married 65 years.
Pop and Mama Jane have 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren: Patti & Thomas Martin have Janie (Harrison Whittemore), Matt (Sam), Maggie, Molly and Lilli; Donnie (deceased) and Cathy Pair have the twins Michael (Katie) with great grandchildren Wesson and Daisy, Mitchel with great grandchild, Colton; Danny (and former spouse, Merrell Holden) have Chad, Link with great grandchild Witt; and Ansley (Jeremy Grabb); Daron and Terrace have Emmett and William (Taylor) with first great granddaughter, Olivia.
Don was a passionate entrepreneur and liked to work on deals while doing things his way. After his AJC paper routes, he opened a used car lot, Don Pair Motors on Moreland Ave. He expanded into a furniture company before finally finding his niche in commercial real estate with the founding of Diversified Mortgage & Realty Company in Decatur, primarily in the apartment business. He made the boys work summers at the apartments to gain insight about construction and to learn the business. They initially worked with him and then branched out on their own.
Everyone who knew Don knew how he loved coaching the boys and how much he liked to win. He coached football, basketball, and baseball at the Northside YMCA and at NYO at Chastain Park. We have fond memories of the banquets at the Morrison’s Cafeteria in Sandy Springs.
The family will receive friends Friday, January 3, 2025 from 1 to 4 o’clock at H.M. Patterson and Son, Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Rd., NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328. The family will also receive friends Saturday at 2 o’clock followed by funeral services at 3 o’clock at Patterson’s Arlington Chapel with Rev. Lee Gaddis officiating. Interment will follow at Arlington Memorial Park.
