Juanita Carson Donald

Juanita was born on May 31, 1925, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Thomas and Rachel Carson. After graduating from Girls High in Atlanta, she briefly moved to San Diego, where she worked for the California Department of Motor Vehicles. Her journey then took her to Washington, D.C., where she proudly served at the Pentagon during World War II.

Though she enjoyed her travels, Juanita always found her way back home to Atlanta. Upon her return, she worked with the American Red Cross, and it was during this time that she met her future husband—her milkman—Mahlon Henly Donald. They married in January 1946 and built a beautiful life together, raising three sons and a daughter.

As her children grew older, Juanita joined Delta Air Lines, where she worked for five years. In her later years, after raising her family, she and her closest friends traveled the world together, creating lifelong memories.

Juanita was a gracious, elegant woman with an unmistakable Southern charm and a warm, melodic accent. Her presence lit up every room, and people were naturally drawn to her kindness, wit, and dignity. She was, in every sense of the word, a true Southern Belle.

Remarkably independent and healthy well into her 90s, Juanita continued to embrace life fully. After a fall at age 90, she moved in with her eldest son in 2016. At 91, she embraced technology, learning to navigate the internet, order online, and stay informed. She fell in love with reading on her Amazon Kindle—eventually wearing out three of them.

Juanita was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Mahlon Henly Donald Jr; survived by her sons Mahlon Henly Donald III, Alan Wayne Donald and his wife Martha, and Vance Thomas Donald and his wife Kimberly; her daughter Bonnie Bowen and husband Bobby; as well as four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

She leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, humor, and grace that will forever be cherished by her family, many beloved relatives, and lifelong friends.