Donna Marie Jett Garrison was born August 30, 1952, to the late Ernest Jett and the late Esther Lee in New Orleans, LA. She departed this life on July 9, 2018 at the age of 65. Donna is survived by three sisters and two brothers Pauline Matthews, Earl Savage, Clarence Smith, Kim (Titus) Johnson, and Darlene Gilbert. Her biological mother passed away when Donna was only ten years old. That tragedy shaped the relationships between Donna and her siblings, and caused them to form close bonds as much as possible despite the separation of the family unit. She has always had a very close bond with her eldest sister, Pauline, who has been a mother figure for her. They were not only sisters, they were best friends. After her mother passed, Donna was fostered by Irma Lee Spears and the late Henry Spears.
Donna attended school in Jefferson Parish, and went to vocational school to earn certifications as a typist. She later earned an associate’s degree and became a teacher’s aide. She served in various school systems as a teacher’s aide providing care to many children with special needs for over 20 years. She could not stand to see anyone “go without” and would do everything in her power to help. She took care of several different elderly people over the years cleaning houses, running errands, etc. She also provided one on one care to those with special needs outside of the school settings.
Donna confessed Jesus Christ as Savior early on in life. Later in life, she started attending church at Christian Fellowship Outreach Ministries under the spiritual leadership of Pastor Carl Christian Sr. and Lady Sharon Christian. She made Jesus Christ Lord of her life and began demonstrating more of a saved lifestyle after truly going through the process of being born again. Additionally, she spent several years under the spiritual leadership and guidance of Pastor Larry Williams and the late Lady Janet Williams of Jesus’ Temple of Deliverance Ministries and gained more knowledge of the principles of the faith. Most recently she returned to Christian Fellowship Outreach Ministries to continue her walk with God. She was affectionately known as “Mama Donna” or “Mama Dee”.
She was affectionately known as “Grammy” to all her grandchildren and great grandchildren. As a mother and aunt, she was very loving, stern, and vigilant in an effort to raise and ultimately produce as she would say “assets and not liabilities”.
She worked several jobs simultaneously to support her family as a very heavily involved single mother. Even with her busy schedule, she still managed to successfully support her children’s extracurricular activities and educational/ professional pursuits. She was an expert at nurturing the development of her kids, and lovingly cracking the whip to instill good character and strong work ethic.
Donna loved God, loved her family, and did everything in her power to help everyone she encountered. She was always active in the church whether it was coordinating the Vacation Bible School sessions, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school, cooking/ working in the feeding ministries, or working with the Sunbeam choir. Donna loved to cook and bake; and was great at it. She was very popular for her signature peach cobbler, sweet potato pies, and sock-it-to-me cakes. One of her many jobs was working in the bakery for many years. She loved to spend time with her family, and to watch her favorite Western TV programs. She was truly loved and will be missed by many.
Donna is survived by three biological daughters, Katrina Randel, Andrea (Leonard) Hines, and Ramona Jett; grandchildren, Keyandre’ Randel, Kaylaa Randel, ArShane Hines, and Inaya Hines; great-grandchildren, Zie Mitchell and Zhane Mitchell. She was a loving aunt to all of her nephews and nieces, Monique Coleman, Giovanni Smith, Hazel Gilbert, Azure Scott, Elenor Gilbert, Mark (Erica) Smith, Ryan (Candacee) Matthews, Freddy Gilbert Jr., Michael Smith, Michelle Smith, Titalyn Johnson, Joshua Smith, and Anthony Smith as well as a host of great nephews and nieces. She was affectionately known as “Auntie Don Marie”. She was also a substitute mother and grandmother to a host of sons and daughters including Anthony Benjamin, Ann James, Janet Smith, Jantie (Jerrord) Mitchell, and Ana Rosa (Enrique) Borges.
Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest Jett and Esther Lee; her brother-in-law Freddy Gilbert Sr. (Darlene).
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2018 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas. Interment is to follow at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. The family will receive friends during a visitation on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.