Charlotte - Donna Cullen Arrington, age 69, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family and friends on Monday, May 13, 2013. She was born in Evansville, Indiana to the late Charles Edward Cullen and Sarah Omer Cullen. She was a member of Myers Park Baptist Church.
Donna was a person who believed in living an authentic life. She believed in family, fostering good friends with similar values and in living the truth. Passions included her love of yard sales and that one spectacular find, the love of flowers and English Gardens, her home, and all of those special haunts around her home. Her commitment to service was deep as exemplified by her work in the Peace Corps, at the United Way, and as the Senior Director of the Regional HIV/AIDS Consortium. Her strengths were collaboration and facilitation. She could always help others think outside the box to find middle ground. Her empathy, compassion and intellect were manifested in relationship building. Donna always believed in taking the “high road.”
Her greatest gift of all was her spirit…a spirit way too big for this world. Donna embraced outdoor adventures with hiking, kayaking, backpacking and walking. She loved those “shorts and sweatshirt” kind of days. She loved her dog Murphy Brown devotedly and worried about her more than herself. Donna especially loved to walk Murphy at sunrise, Donna’s favorite time of day.
Probably the greatest accomplishment in her life was her daughter, Sarah, followed closely by her two granddaughters, Madison and Abby Cate. They affectionately called her Nanmommie. Nanmommie was determined to establish traditions with the girls by introducing them to new things, such as summer camps at The Cornwell Center, Santa’s Bag, Easter Bunny pictures at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, and plays at ImaginOn.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Sue Cullen.
Donna is survived by her daughter, Sarah Arrington Holman and her husband Randall; granddaughters, Madison and Abby Cate; partner in life, Cathy Morelli; sister, Bettye Hutchison and her husband Rodney; brother, John Cullen; nieces, Christie Cullen Barany and husband Jason, Lauren Cullen Cooley and husband Paul; nephews, Tim Hutchison, and Todd Hutchison and wife Stephanie; and let’s not forget her dog, Murphy Brown.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Myers Park Baptist Church. Inurnment in the church columbarium will take place immediately after the service, followed by a reception in Heaton Hall.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Charlotte, 4530 Park Rd. #240, Charlotte, NC 28209 or to Myers Park Baptist Church.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18