URBANA — Willeta Mae Hassell Donaldson was born Oct. 6, 1940, to Joseph Leo and Hattie Virginia (Thompson) Hassell, at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana, but she did not transition there. On Saturday (Feb. 2, 2019), Willeta passed in the comfort of her home on the 59th anniversary of her marriage to Carlos Franklin Donaldson Sr., of Chattanooga, Tenn.
She leaves to cherish many wonderful memories her husband, Carlos, of exactly 59 years; three children, Carlos Franklin Jr. (Mae Nunnery) Donaldson, Carletta Jo Donaldson and Dennis Keith (Denise Stanley) Donaldson; grandchildren, Ryan Carlos and Blake Donaldson, Chad (Kathy Boetcher) Pellum, Amber (Justin) Duncan of Champaign and Kyle Pellum; two brothers, Joseph L. and Charles E. (Betty J. Lewis) Hassell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Willeta was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Hattie Hassell; one sister, Joan Hassell Alexander; and two nephews, Brian A. and Kerry L. Alexander.
Willeta graduated from Champaign High School (now known as Central High School) on June 5, 1958, and immediately began employment at the University of Illinois in the Office of Admissions and Records, retiring as an administrative assistant I (assistant to the director of admissions) in 1995. She went back to work part time in 1997 for the director of development at the University of Illinois in the School of Social Work, retiring in 2004.
Willeta was instrumental in the integration of Urbana Schools, the first in the State of Illinois. Willeta has served on and has been the chair of the City of Urbana Human Relations Commission. She grew up at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, returning three years ago after serving with her husband for 53 years at Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 1301 N. Sixth St., Champaign, with Pastor Rickey E. Parks officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the church. Final interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens.
The ministry of comfort is being provided by Perry’s Twin City Mortuary Service, Champaign.
She leaves to cherish many wonderful memories her husband, Carlos, of exactly 59 years; three children, Carlos Franklin Jr. (Mae Nunnery) Donaldson, Carletta Jo Donaldson and Dennis Keith (Denise Stanley) Donaldson; grandchildren, Ryan Carlos and Blake Donaldson, Chad (Kathy Boetcher) Pellum, Amber (Justin) Duncan of Champaign and Kyle Pellum; two brothers, Joseph L. and Charles E. (Betty J. Lewis) Hassell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Willeta was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Hattie Hassell; one sister, Joan Hassell Alexander; and two nephews, Brian A. and Kerry L. Alexander.
Willeta graduated from Champaign High School (now known as Central High School) on June 5, 1958, and immediately began employment at the University of Illinois in the Office of Admissions and Records, retiring as an administrative assistant I (assistant to the director of admissions) in 1995. She went back to work part time in 1997 for the director of development at the University of Illinois in the School of Social Work, retiring in 2004.
Willeta was instrumental in the integration of Urbana Schools, the first in the State of Illinois. Willeta has served on and has been the chair of the City of Urbana Human Relations Commission. She grew up at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, returning three years ago after serving with her husband for 53 years at Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 1301 N. Sixth St., Champaign, with Pastor Rickey E. Parks officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the church. Final interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens.
The ministry of comfort is being provided by Perry’s Twin City Mortuary Service, Champaign.
URBANA — Willeta Mae Hassell Donaldson was born Oct. 6, 1940, to Joseph Leo and Hattie Virginia (Thompson) Hassell, at the Champaign County Nursing Home, Urbana, but she did not transition there. On Saturday (Feb. 2, 2019), Willeta passed in the comfort of her home on the 59th anniversary of her marriage to Carlos Franklin Donaldson Sr., of Chattanooga, Tenn.
She leaves to cherish many wonderful memories her husband, Carlos, of exactly 59 years; three children, Carlos Franklin Jr. (Mae Nunnery) Donaldson, Carletta Jo Donaldson and Dennis Keith (Denise Stanley) Donaldson; grandchildren, Ryan Carlos and Blake Donaldson, Chad (Kathy Boetcher) Pellum, Amber (Justin) Duncan of Champaign and Kyle Pellum; two brothers, Joseph L. and Charles E. (Betty J. Lewis) Hassell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Willeta was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Hattie Hassell; one sister, Joan Hassell Alexander; and two nephews, Brian A. and Kerry L. Alexander.
Willeta graduated from Champaign High School (now known as Central High School) on June 5, 1958, and immediately began employment at the University of Illinois in the Office of Admissions and Records, retiring as an administrative assistant I (assistant to the director of admissions) in 1995. She went back to work part time in 1997 for the director of development at the University of Illinois in the School of Social Work, retiring in 2004.
Willeta was instrumental in the integration of Urbana Schools, the first in the State of Illinois. Willeta has served on and has been the chair of the City of Urbana Human Relations Commission. She grew up at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, returning three years ago after serving with her husband for 53 years at Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 1301 N. Sixth St., Champaign, with Pastor Rickey E. Parks officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the church. Final interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens.
The ministry of comfort is being provided by Perry’s Twin City Mortuary Service, Champaign.
She leaves to cherish many wonderful memories her husband, Carlos, of exactly 59 years; three children, Carlos Franklin Jr. (Mae Nunnery) Donaldson, Carletta Jo Donaldson and Dennis Keith (Denise Stanley) Donaldson; grandchildren, Ryan Carlos and Blake Donaldson, Chad (Kathy Boetcher) Pellum, Amber (Justin) Duncan of Champaign and Kyle Pellum; two brothers, Joseph L. and Charles E. (Betty J. Lewis) Hassell; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Willeta was preceded in death by her father and mother, Joseph and Hattie Hassell; one sister, Joan Hassell Alexander; and two nephews, Brian A. and Kerry L. Alexander.
Willeta graduated from Champaign High School (now known as Central High School) on June 5, 1958, and immediately began employment at the University of Illinois in the Office of Admissions and Records, retiring as an administrative assistant I (assistant to the director of admissions) in 1995. She went back to work part time in 1997 for the director of development at the University of Illinois in the School of Social Work, retiring in 2004.
Willeta was instrumental in the integration of Urbana Schools, the first in the State of Illinois. Willeta has served on and has been the chair of the City of Urbana Human Relations Commission. She grew up at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, returning three years ago after serving with her husband for 53 years at Bethel A.M.E. Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 1301 N. Sixth St., Champaign, with Pastor Rickey E. Parks officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019, at 10 a.m. at the church. Final interment will be in Lincoln Memorial Gardens.
The ministry of comfort is being provided by Perry’s Twin City Mortuary Service, Champaign.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
