Donna was born June 29, 1953, in Gastonia, NC, to the late Harry Anderson Connor and Nell Costner Connor.
Donna was a graduate of Greensboro College where she obtained a degree in education. She began teaching in Guilford County Schools in 1996 and was Teacher of the Year in 1998. She was well-known for her skills as a math teacher but also believed in identifying how a student learned the best, which lead Donna to end her career as an Induction Coach Coordinator where she mentored beginning year teachers for Guilford County Schools. She retired in 2017 however she decided to go back to tutoring just this past fall. Donna was artistic and creative. She enjoyed shag dancing and spending as much time as possible at her home at the beach. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and extended family.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Anderson Allen of Cape Elizabeth, ME, Stewart Allen (Eileen Angel) and Katie Allen (Jack Sumner), both of Greensboro, NC; sister Harriet Hardee (Bob Hardee) of Lake Wylie,SC; grandchildren: Grayson Allen, Saylor Allen, Dylan Sumner and Emma Kate Sumner; niece Kellie Brannon (Michael) of Waxhaw, NC, and nephew Will Hardee (Beth) of Clover, SC; great-nieces Anna Maria, Sophie and Ivy, and great-nephews Connor and Tyler.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, January 20, 2024, at West Market Street United Methodist Church, where she was a member. A reception will follow at Greensboro Women's Club-Weir-Jordan House, 223 North Edgeworth Street Greensboro, NC 27401. The family requests that memorials in Donna’s name be made to the Hospice Organization, AuthoraCare Collective, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, NC 27405. Online condolences may be made at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com.
