Donna was born in Quantico, Virginia on October 27, 1946 to the late Royce Raymond and Elizabeth Brandon Long Dyer. She was the younger of their first set of twins.
Being raised as part of a military family she lived in Quantico, Virginia; Camp LeJeune, North Carolina; Oceanside, California; Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; Beaufort, South Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and finally settled in Memphis. She graduated from Frayser High School in 1964 and then worked for Southwestern University (now Rhodes College) as executive secretary to the President. Donna then worked for Schering Plough as a paralegal while pursuing her BBA and law degree at the University of Memphis. She obtained her juris doctorate at 40 years of age. After Schering Plough transferred to New Jersey she began work for Arcadian as their corporate counsel. She later worked for Guardsmark as Vice President, served on their ethics committee and was a member of the I.R.C. (Investigative Regulatory and Compliance) Division. She finished her professional career with a short experience at the Memphis office of the I.R.S.
Along with her parents Donna was preceded in death by her son Brandon A. Smith.
Donna is survived by brothers Donald (Donna) Dyer and Tommy (Terry) Dyer; sisters Cheryl (John) Dyer DeKoekkoek and Carol Dyer Henley; grandchildren Evan Smith, Ali Daniels and Ian Daniels; and great-granddaughter Lilian Daniels. She also coparented her nieces Brooke Parker and Macayla Henley and then became a great-aunt to Brooklyn Parker in 2014. There are many other extended family members who appreciate her influence, strength and generosity.
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, July 22 from one o'clock in the afternoon until a memorial services begins at two o'clock at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38119. Staff celebrant Jon Finley will lead the services.
Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to the Cecil C. Humphrey's School of Law at the University of Memphis, https://www.memphis.edu/law/alumni/how-to-give.php
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralPoplar.com for Donna's family.
