Donna Parent Atwood, age 73, of Oxford, Mississippi, went to be with the Lord on August 10, 2023. She died at her home with her children by her side after a brief illness.
Donna was born on November 18, 1949, in Detroit, Michigan, to Evans and Jean Parent. The Parent family moved to Princeton, Kentucky when Donna was young and became active members of First Baptist Church. Donna was a 1967 graduate of Caldwell County High School, where she sang in the chorus and in several musical productions. Donna also was a 1971 graduate of Georgetown University, where she earned a degree in music education with an emphasis in vocal performance.
Donna married the love of her life, Tom Atwood, on June 5, 1971, and was his devoted companion through many years of education and forty-one years of ministry. She worked as a teacher in Oldham County Schools to help put Tom through the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Then together they embarked on a journey that would take Tom to ministry positions first as an evangelist, then pastorates at East Baptist Church in Paducah, Kentucky; First Baptist Church of Clinton, Kentucky; First Baptist Church of Martin, Tennessee; Pray’s Mill Baptist Church in Douglasville, Georgia; and First Baptist Church of Oxford, Mississippi. Wherever Tom served, Donna was by his side as his helper and greatest encourager.
As well as being a faithful partner to Tom in life and ministry, Donna was a loving mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and true friend to everyone who knew her. She was always ready to lend a helping hand and a listening ear. She found great fulfillment in investing in the lives of not only her family and friends but also in the members of the churches they served. She shared her knowledge of and enthusiasm for God’s Word and music with untold numbers of ladies and children of all ages.
Donna was a lifelong student of the Bible, a dedicated homemaker, a talented seamstress, and a lover of music. She was an excellent pianist and spent many hours playing her piano for her own enjoyment. She delighted in teaching preschool music at Weekday Education. She also loved singing in the First Baptist Church choir and the Oxford Civic Chorus.
Donna is survived by her children, Michael (Corley) and their son Mason, of Dallas, Texas; and Laura Beth (Alex) O’Nan and their children Miriam and Felix, of Louisville, Kentucky. Other relatives left to mourn her passing include her niece Angela Bigham (Andrew); sisters-in-law Barbara Atwood and Karen Cole (Craig); nephews Paul Atwood (Amy), Jordan Cole (Laura), and Travis Cole (Rae); and a host of extended family and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is predeceased by her parents; sister, Dorothy Hammons; grandparents, John and Mabel Manners Scarborough and Benson and Imogene Hill Parent.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the multitude of friends who have reached out and ministered to Donna and her children through messages of encouragement, visits, meals, and many other expressions of love and concern.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, August 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Oxford, Mississippi, with visitation at noon. Interment will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, at Millwood Cemetery in Caldwell County, Kentucky. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Memorials may be made to FBC Oxford, 800 Van Buren Avenue, Oxford, Mississippi 38655.
Waller Family Funeral Home in Oxford, MS is in charge of arrangements.
