Donna Nedelisky

Donna Raney Nedelisky passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at her home in Tallahassee, Florida. Donna was born March 28, 1956, in Moultrie, Georgia. She was the only daughter of George & Mary Nell Raney. Donna’s family moved to Florida, shortly after she was born.

George and Nell Raney’s oldest two children, George, Jr. and Donna, were born in Moultrie, Georgia. After the Raney family moved to Ocala, Florida, in 1956, Donna’s younger brothers, Mike and Mark, were born. Donna was second to the oldest of the four Raney children. She attended Wyomina Park Elementary School, Fort King Middle School and Vanguard High School. Donna became a Christian at the age of seven in 1963 while she and her family attended First Baptist Church in Ocala. As a teenager, Donna worked at Silver Springs Park in Ocala, assisting Ross Allen in his snake demonstrations, as well as doing artwork at the Silver Springs amusement park. She later worked at Sears in their credit department.

After graduating from Vanguard High School in 1973, Donna enrolled at Central Florida Community College (CFCC) in Ocala. In Donna’s one year of studies at CFCC, she and her close friend Ramona Grant also served as cheerleaders for the college’s various sports teams. In the fall of 1974, Donna transferred as a college sophomore to Oral Roberts University (ORU) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. There she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and a minor in Religious Education. Also, at ORU Donna met her husband-to-be, Daryl Nedelisky. Both Donna and Daryl graduated together from ORU in May,1977. Donna and Daryl were married in Ocala on February 19, 1978, and remained married until her death.

Donna began teaching school at The Kings Academy in Wildwood, Florida, shortly after she and Daryl were married. She taught school for almost two years until just prior to the birth of her first child, Paul. While Donna and Daryl resided in Ocala, their first three children were born; Paul Ryan (1980), Raney Nicole (1982) and Joshua Michael (1985). Donna began officially homeschooling their children in 1985. Shortly thereafter, in 1987 Donna and Daryl and their children moved to Virginia where Daryl attended law school. After Daryl graduated from law school, the family returned to Ocala. In 1995 their fourth child, Jessica Hope, was born, also in Ocala. In April 2022, Donna and Daryl moved to Tallahassee, Florida.

Donna is survived by her three siblings; George, Mike and Mark, her husband Daryl, four children; Paul Nedelisky (Beth), Raney Nicole Kozloski (Kyle), Joshua Nedelisky (Allison) and Jessica Nedelisky. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren; Evangeline, Pascale, Emaline, Claribel, John David, Everette Rose, George, Georgiana, Adeline, Elena and James. In addition, Donna is survived by numerous nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Donna is predeceased by her dad and mom, George Raney and Mary Nell Raney.

Throughout most of her adult life, Donna was an educator and the complete homemaker. Much of her time was spent raising and home schooling her children, scheduling activities, meal planning, maintaining an orderly home, sewing, creating needlework artwork, milling wheat, baking granola, being a loving Nan to grandchildren and participating in numerous other family, school and church activities. She is best remembered for being a loving and faithful wife, gracious mother, doting grandmother, dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, avid reader, lover of music and a huge fan of babies. She especially enjoyed spending time with family. She dearly loved her family, including her parents, husband, children and their spouses, grandchildren, siblings/in-laws and nephews & nieces!

Especially noteworthy is that Donna home schooled all her children from kindergarten through high school, which meant that Donna faithfully taught and instructed her children collectively for over 30 years. She cherished her role as a homemaker and educator and was inspired by the challenges of her calling. During this time, Donna served for several years as the College Dual Enrollment Coordinator for the Academy of Biblical Character Development (ABCD). ABCD was the home school umbrella school/corporation of which the family was a member. She also served on the board of ABCD. In a sense she felt that, in her labors of instructing and raising her children, she was forging her “magnum opus,” literally her “great work.” So quite naturally, she enjoyed herself and felt deeply connected to the successes of her children.

Paul earned a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Virginia and has served in Virginia as Assistant Director and a Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. Raney Nicole earned a music degree from Florida State University (FSU), where her husband Kyle and she have served as directors of Campus Youth Ministries at FSU. Joshua graduated from the University of Central Florida, has been a Captain in the United States Army and has completed medical school at Texas A&M University. He presently is completing his residency as a medical doctor at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Jessica has attended St John Community College and has worked as an accomplished singer, musician, composer and music instructor. She also served as a worship leader for many years in Jacksonville, Florida.

Donna was proud of each child and sensed that she shared an important part in their amazing success stories. But of even greater importance, Donna will be remembered by all as a woman deeply committed to her faith in God, as well as for her complete devotion to Scripture. She is also remembered for her tender kindness, extreme compassion and for her hospitality and generosity to all. She will also be remembered for her ready smile, her sweet friendship to many and her gentle spontaneous ability to laugh. One of her many favorite Bible passages is found in Colossians 1: 15-20, that states, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”