Donna Mooney

Donna Conlee Mooney, died Sunday, February 08, 2015 at New Albany Hospital. She was born to the late Johnnie Mae Simmons Conlee and Slay Hugh Conlee, of Ecru. She graduated from Ecru High School where she was salutatorian, editor of the school paper, and head cheerleader. She attended Itawamba Junior College where she was president of the Baptist Student Union, president of Monroe Hall, president of Young Women’s Auxiliary, secretary of the Student Education Association, on the Dean’s List, and selected to the Hall of Fame. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English at Blue Mountain College and received a Masters of Library Science from Ole Miss.

In her 36 year career with Pontotoc County school system, she organized several fund raisers to provide lockers and air conditioning for the new North Pontotoc Attendance Center and sponsored the Beta Club for 23 years. As president of North Pontotoc PTO she helped raise funds for covered walkways, furnished the library with 10 computers, workstations, carts, and a CD player through book fairs and beauty revues. She was the first president of the Pontotoc County Professional Educators. She organized the twenty year reunion of North Pontotoc School, actively participated in the effort to keep Bible classes in schools when the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the school system, and helped secure Bill Murray and Dr. James Kenneth for countywide fundraisers, to pay the lawyers, and had worked with the Bible committee since 1971, where she served as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. Donna was also active in civic affairs, helping with fundraising to purchase more Christmas lights for Ecru, coordinating 11 Christmas parades and helping with senior citizens days and Veterans Day programs. As president of the Pilot Club of Ecru she coordinated the 1984 reunion of all classes of Ecru High School, compiling a booklet of composite pictures of all graduating classes along with the history of the school since its beginning in the 1920’s.

Donna loved her church, Ecru Baptist, where she taught ladies Sunday school class for 36 years, sang in the choir, and most recently coordinated Operation Christmas Child, where boxes that contained the word of God, toys, school supplies and clothes that were sent to children in over 70 countries and helped spread the word of God to millions around the world. She was president of the Pontotoc Ridge Dulcimer Club and enjoyed playing in churches and nursing homes.

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM at Ecru Baptist Church, with Rev. Glenn Reeder, Rev. Tom Summrall, Rev. Barry Littlefield and Rev. Greg Lassett. Burial will follow in the Ecru Cemetery. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of the arrangements.

She is survived by her husband, Rex Mooney, whom she married on June 15, 1968, several nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

Pallbearers will be the active Deacons of Ecru Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Monday at 5pm at Ecru Baptist Church.

Memorials may be sent to the Donna Mooney Scholarship Fund, for Ministerial Students, C/O Renasant Bank, 309 Hwy 15, Pontotoc, MS 38863.

Condolences may be offered at www.browningpontotoc.com