Donna Marie Delong

Donna Marie (Massie) Delong, age 81, formerly of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away peacefully at the home of her daughter on March 26, 2022. Born on July 22, 1940 in Blackfork, Ohio, she was one of ten children born to William Massie and Jessie Loper Massie. Donna loved to tell stories from her childhood growing up in a big family from a small town. She married Bobby Delong on December 13, 1957, in a little white church outside Oak Hill, Ohio. Together they welcomed two children, Michael and Bryan. Later they added a daughter, Natasha, by adoption. She would often joke that “I always wanted a daughter, I just never knew God would give her to me when I was 43 years old!”

Donna was very proud of earning her Associate’s Degree and worked as a nurse for many years. After retirement, she chose to focus on important things like being the room mom and head cheerleader for all her kids. Once her kids were grown, she took great pride in being Maw-Maw and Nana to her grandkids. In her later years, she could be found watching Hallmark movies or television dramas and doing word search or crossword puzzles. She loved to see the trees and flowers bloom every spring and enjoyed fresh produce from the farmer’s market in the summer.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Bobby Dean Delong; her parents, Bill and Jessie; her siblings, Wanda Miller, Jimmy Massie, Bobby Massie, Ray Massie, Harold Massie, and Tommy Massie. She is survived by her children, Dr. Michael Dean Delong (Robin), Bryan David Delong (Wendy), and Natasha Delong Griffin (Gregory); grandchildren, Matheau Bryan Delong, Shelby Dean Delong, Savannah Marie Lanjian Delong, Hadley Grace Griffin, and Eliana Elizabeth Griffin; and several great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Betty Settles, Jackie Massie, and David Massie and numerous nieces and nephews.

Donna requested no services. Her ashes will be scattered at a meaningful location. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.