Donna R Hughes

Donna was born in Tallapoosa, Georgia on June 13, 1957, to the late Ray Hughes and the late Myrtice Hughes. As a child, Donna showed a veracious appetite for learning, reading dictionaries and anatomy books and memorizing scripture with ease. Donna attended Haralson High School and graduated as a junior due to her outstanding academic standing. She then attended West Georgia University completing a Bachelor of Science with high honors in Biology in only three years. She continued her studies at Medical College of Georgia in Augusta receiving a Doctorate of Medicine. She was board certified in neurology, psychiatry, medicine, and surgery. Donna further completed an internship at Harvard University specializing in sleep disorders.

From childhood, Donna wanted to be a doctor out of a deep desire to help people. She practiced medicine at West Georgia Neurology until her health necessitated her retirement in 2001. She was a compassionate doctor who took a personal interest in each patient and remembered them always. Donna was greatly loved by her patients and their families. Following her retirement, she continued her care of people as much as her health would allow through ministries like the Stephen Ministry at First Presbyterian Church in Douglasville and by providing love and encouragement to all who would visit her. Donna never lost her passion for medicine pursuing the study of medical ethics at Emory for as long as her health allowed.

Donna loved gardening, a passion she developed as a child with her beloved father. She was an avid reader and devoured books easily remembering all she read. Donna deeply loved her Lord and loved studying His word. As a young woman, Donna played the piano in church and had a lifelong deep love for singing hymns and worshipping the Lord.

Donna is survived by her dearest friend and companion, Kelly Williams; her sisters, Linda Williams (Richard) and Janice Hughes; nephew John Williams (Karen) and great nieces Gracie and Gage Wentz, Bella Williams, Cousin Beverly Hughes, Ophelia Hughes, Denise Kirby, Lesia Bennett and her beloved caretaker Sherri Adams. Along with many other family members and friends.

Donna is preceded in death by her beloved parents Ray Hughes and Myrtice Hughes.

The family will receive friends and family for visitation at Whitley-Garner Rosehaven Funeral Home in Douglasville, Georgia on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 1:00PM followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to American Arthritis Foundation at www.americanarthritisfoundation.org.

If ordering a floral tribute, please contact our preferred florist for guaranteed service: Frances Florist, 12641 Veterans Memorial Highway Douglasville, GA, (770) 949-8711 or online at https://www.francesflorist.net

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitleygarner.com for the Hughes family.

Whitley-Garner at Rosehaven is honored to be entrusted with the services of Dr. Hughes.