Donald M. Jeter, age 78, died peacefully at home on June 1, his loving wife Karon by his side. A lifelong Jacksonian, Donald retired in 1999 after forty years of service with IC Railroad. He was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.
In 1957, Donald graduated from Beech Bluff High School, where he played guard on the Tigers basketball team. During his senior year the mighty Tigers won thirty consecutive games, finally losing to Parsons by one point at the district tournament. For several years after high school, that winning team, sponsored by Hand M Tea and David's Cleaners continued to play together in independent leagues with tremendous success.
Donald enjoyed sports throughout his life, playing baseball and becoming an avid golfer. In later life, he enjoyed watching most any sport on television. In addition, he enjoyed puttering in the house and yard, repairing or building virtually anything for himself, Karon, or other family members or anyone one else who needed or asked for his help. He had a large and loving servant heart, and his loss is deeply felt by friends and neighbors as well as his family.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Elbert Jeter and Katherine Kendrick Jeter and by a granddaughter, Ashley Allen.
In addition to his wife of fifty-five years, Karon Tedford Jeter, he is survived by a daughter, Kippie Allen Hankins (Mike); a son, Tracy Jeter (Tootie); a grandson, Ben Jeter; a granddaughter, Karrah Allen; a sister, M. Gloria Jeter; a brother, Conard Jeter (Coy) and several neices and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the South Chapel of George A. Smith and Sons Funeral Home. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Ridgecrest Cemetery.
Pallbearers to serve will be Eugene Spellings, Perry Jeter, Damon Warren, Dylan Marcom, Charley Lewis, Todd Allen, and Robbie Parker.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the charity of the donor's choice .
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