Donna Carey Williamson

Donna was a true force of nature. Her joyous spirit and love for life were evident to all who were lucky enough to meet her.

Born on 21 July 1945 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Donna was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, and mother. She grew up in Lawrence, Massachusetts and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Framingham State College. Donna’s dream was to travel and see the world, so she decided to join the Army. In her years as an Army dietician, she earned her Master of Business Administration degree from Suffolk University. One of her favorite stories to tell family and friends was about her time assigned to Womack Army Hospital in 1969 at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, where she met her husband, Gerald. It was love at first sight (for him). It was difficult not to notice her as Donna was a woman of exceptional style, with a strong Boston accent. This meeting was the start of a beautiful 56-year marriage.

Over her 26-year Army career, she had assignments at various locations both stateside and in Germany. One of her first assignments was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In the mid-seventies, she transferred to the Medical Service Corps (MSC). She was then an Ambulance Company Commander, and an administrator at the 97th General Hospital in Germany. In the 1980’s, she completed the Army’s Command and General Staff Course and was then assigned to 7th Medical Command Headquarters, Heidelberg, Germany. It was here that she became the first woman to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Medical Service Corps. After one last assignment at Walter Reed, Donna retired in 1993.

Donna’s military awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster.

After retirement, Donna was focused on supporting her daughter Alexandra’s school through various volunteer activities. She had an incredible gift for organizing and brought that energy and expertise to many organizations in San Antonio. Donna was a voracious reader and went to the library weekly to pick up her large stack of books. It was rare to see her without a book close at hand. She loved her family passionately and enjoyed nothing more than traveling with them to the New Hampshire beaches and finding as many ice cream stands as she could.

The holidays were a very special time for Donna. She loved Christmas, Christmas music, decorating and entertaining. During Alexandra’s school years, Donna hosted yearly mother-daughter Christmas teas, making plates of profiteroles, cookies, breads, and cakes from scratch. Being there for others was at the heart of everything she did, and she touched the lives of many with her profound sense of humor, disarming wit, warmth, and generosity.

Donna is preceded in death by her mother, Eileen Carey, and her father, William R. Carey, Jr.

Donna is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Gerald D. Williamson, her daughter, Alexandra Carey Williamson (Michael), and her brothers and sisters, William R. Carey, III (Cynthia), Shaun Carey (Pamela), Nancy Carey, and Barbara Sechrist (Robert).

Please join us in celebrating Donna’s unforgettable life.

Visitation will be held on 5 August 2026 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM with the Rosary recited at 6:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 1701 Austin Highway, San Antonio, Texas 78218. Refreshments provided.

Funeral mass will be held on 6 August 2026 at 9:30 AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3303 Urban Crest Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78209, with a funeral service at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution in Donna’s name to the Lawrence History Center, 6 Essex St., Lawrence, MA 01840, the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni (IAFSA), 42 Adams Rd., Framingham, MA 01702, or to the charity of your choosing.

The family of Col. (Ret.) Donna C. Williamson wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to Jennifer Frilling and all the hospice nurses from Christus Visting Nurse Association who were entrusted with Donna’s care and allowed her to approach the end of life with dignity. We are grateful to the staff of Premier Assisted Living for providing around-the-clock care for Donna.