Donna “Nana” Alexander, born Donna Lynn Ray, age 79, of Early passed away on Sunday, January 22, 2023, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene.
Memorial Service for Donna will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 28, 2023, at The Early Church with Pastor Donnie Pinkston officiating; a private burial will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Donna was born on August 28, 1943, to Johnnie Mae Ray Compton and Waymon Tanner Ray in Gorman, Texas. She grew up in Texas and attended Midland High School where she graduated in 1961. After high school she moved to Hobbs, NM and graduated from college with a degree in education. She fulfilled her dream of being a teacher.
She married Glen Alexander on August 4th, 1967. They resided in New Mexico where she raised three beautiful daughters Donna Conise, Glenna Lynn, and Angela Leigh. She encouraged her daughters to be the best versions of themselves and was always so proud of the powerful women they had become.
While residing in Roswell, NM, she continued to sow the seeds of faith with her children’s ministry and starting teaching at Gateway Christian School. Through her 32 years of teaching and lifetime of ministry she inspired so many people who viewed her as a mother and grandmother. She wrote her own curriculums for children’s ministry, school, puppetry, and women’s studies. Some of which were published and are still being taught to this day. She was a teacher for private, public, and home schools. Her dream was to teach and to inspire young minds. She became a counselor, a coach with her daughter, Angela, a caregiver, and a missionary. She had travelled internationally and to 49 of the 50 states sharing the gospel and exploring new destinations. Everywhere she was she inspired the hearts of creativity and love. She never missed an opportunity to witness to others and be a shining light in the darkness.
She had 6 beautiful granddaughters and 1 amazing grandson. She was a safe place for her children and grandchildren and a powerful ally for pranks. She was the center of laughter in her family and always kept smiles on their faces. With those grandchildren came seven great-grandchildren and with those kids came more love and more hidden candies. She was always there for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s events. She never missed the big moments and was always their number one fan. There was nothing she loved more than her family. Donna will be remembered as someone who was always there. Someone you could always count on and talk to. She was an inspiration for millions and the sweetest person you could have ever known. She was and always will be THE Nana.
Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations can be made to your choice of organizations that were dear to Donna.
Houses for Healing (P.O. Box 2320, Abilene, Texas 79604)
Website: www.housesforhealing.com
Cook Children’s Medical Center/ Cook Children’s Health Foundation
(801 7th Avenue, Ft Worth, Texas 76104)
Website: www.cookchildrenspromise.org
Wolf Valley Cemetery Association (P.O. Box 74, May, Texas 76857)
If you chose to send a donation to Wolf Valley Cemetery, the family ask that you please send a card to Glen so he can acknowledge your donation.