Donnie D. Bracley

Donnie Darnell Bracley was born August 7, 1958 in Ardmore, Oklahoma to the parentage of Connie Upchurch Ragin and the late Samuel Bracley (Feb 2020). Donnie grew up in a military family living in Panama Canal Zone, Wichita Falls,Texas and Germany where he attended High School.

Donnie attended Prince George's Community College before enlisting in the Navy where he served 10 years with stations including Germany, San Diego and the Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland. Donnie was honorably discharged as an E5. While in the Navy, Donnie received his formal training as a Radiology Technologist.

Donnie worked over 30 years as a healthcare professional starting his career as an X-ray technologist and the last several years as a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technologist. He was most recently employed by Kaiser Permanente in Largo, Maryland, where he was adored and respected by his co-workers and MRI team.

“Donnie D,” “Big Donnie,” and “Billy D” as he was affectionately called by family and friends respectfully had a love for life and his family. Donnie was a great griller and especially known for his patience when cooking and smoking his famous barbecue chicken and jerk chicken dishes. Over the years, Donnie’s hobbies included being on the Chesapeake Bay jet skiing, boating and fishing. He also enjoyed vacationing in the Outer Banks, NC and Ocean City, MD with family and friends. Donnie had many friends who he considered extended family including his Notty and GT crew.

On November 30, 2020 Donnie Bracley departed this life. He leaves to cherish his memory, four children; Leticia, Jurrell (Hicks) and Marissa and Olivia whom he shared with former spouse Dawn Bracley, four grandchildren; Ericka (Brown), Aliyah (Brown), Izaiah (Hicks), and Aaniyah, his mother, Connie Upchurch Ragin and step mother, Graciela “Gracie” White Bracley, one sister; Valerie, one brother; Shaun (Leonja), two Aunts; Ruby Bracely Pierce and Gloria (Richard) Lee, two Uncles; James (Marie) Bracely, Thomas Jake Sophus, several cousins including; Brent (Stephanie), Dawn (Luis Yoseph), Raymond, Michelle, Marsha and Ronnie, Veronica “Nikki” Hines as well as several nieces and nephews. Donnie is preceded in death by two Aunts; Thelma Jannet Sophus Wright and Debra Sophus Wiggins and one Uncle; Stanford Bracely, and one Cousin; Fredericka Holley.

Family and friends are invited to gather at Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home at Meadowridge Memorial Park, Inc. 7250 Washington Blvd., Elkridge, Maryland 21075 (Exit 6 South off Route 100) on Monday, January 4, 2021 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Interment is private. With limitations made to funeral practices due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all guests are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing per current public health guidelines.