Donna Jean Gilstrap

Donna Jean Gilstrap, age 62, of Nashville, Tennessee passed away Saturday, February 29th, 2020. Born November 8, 1957 in Detroit, Michigan, Donna graduated from Freeland High School an excellent student athlete (gymnast) and cheerleader. She went to Arlington Baptist College to study education, and met her future husband, Michael Gilstrap, who shared her love for music. Michael and Donna became friends while touring in a musical ensemble and soon were engaged. Michael and Donna were married at Northwest Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas on December 16th, 1978. They recently celebrated 41 years of marriage.

Always a faithful Christian woman, Donna sought God in everything she did. Her deep faith guided her throughout her life, and she depended on grace for so many “knots” that seemed impossible to “untie.” She converted to Catholicism on August 15th, 1995, along with her husband, Michael, and her 6 children – Charissa (40), Austin (38), Jackson (35), William (29), Mary (28), and Andrew (25). Later, she would have 2 more children, Teresa (23) and Catherine (20). She proudly stated, “I have 8 children,” when anyone would ask.

Donna devoted her life to her family. They joke that she was the “queen of the side-hustle,” because throughout her life she held seemingly random jobs in order to support her children to provide the best Christian education possible for them. At different times she delivered papers, owned and managed the Guardian Angel Day Care Center, taught pre-school, drove a bus for Pope John Paul II High School, and did secretarial work. Donna enjoyed problem solving to help her family—whether it be haggling for the best price for a car or starting a Daycare center to pay for private high school tuition—Donna was a master-problem solver.

Donna is preceded in death by her brother, David Brown, and her nephew, Joe Christmas. Donna is survived by her husband of 41 years, Michael, her 8 children, Charissa Saenz (John), Father Austin Gilstrap, Jackson, William, Mary, Andrew, Teresa, and Catherine; her 4 beautiful grandchildren, Michael, Bella, Evelyn, and Cecilia; her parents, Percy and Freddie Brown, her siblings, Danese and Darrell, and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family will receive friends at Cathedral of the Incarnation, 2015 West End Ave, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 on March 4, 2020 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with Rosary at 6:30 pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated the following morning March 5, 2020 at Cathedral of the Incarnation at 10:00 am by Father Austin Gilstrap private interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery.

The family would like to express our deepest thanks to everyone who has been praying for Donna these last years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to Pope John Paul II High School Msgr. Bevington Tuition Assistance Fund c/o Jo Lind Weaver, 117 Caldwell Drive, Hendersonville, TN 37075 or by calling 615-590-6008