Shirley Donnell

CHARLOTTE -Our beloved mother, Shirley Donnell, 77, passed away peacefully at home, on February 12, 2023. 

Shirley was a very wise, loyal, determined, strong, kind and generous mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and dog mom, who fought a long & courageous battle with cancer for over 5 years. Our comfort lies in the fact she is now free of pain and reunited with her brother, mother, father and husband whom she has dearly missed all these years. 

Shirley kept a positive and upbeat attitude once diagnosed with cancer and was initially given 1 ½ years to live in August of 2017. There is no doubt God’s grace, compounded with her positive attitude, allowed her to remain with us an extra 4 years. This allowed her family and friends to have just a little more time with her, as well as give her the chance to say her final thoughts, wishes and goodbyes to each of us. We are so thankful and blessed for that time as she was the trunk of our tree of life…our home base…and to say she will be sorely missed is an understatement. 

She was a very detail oriented, super achiever in all that she aspired to do or create. During her tenure at AT&T BellSouth Yellow Pages, she earned the prestigious President’s Award 12 years in a row for top sales. AT&T rewarded her with lavish trips all over the world, which she enjoyed with her late husband until his passing on Mother’s Day, 1998. In addition to her stellar achievements in sales, she acquired the position of President of the workers union for a period of time. She was a force to be reckoned with, an unparalleled example of an employee who strived for an above and beyond performance with the utmost integrity in everything thing she did. 

Before AT&T, she worked as a Reservations Supervisor at Eastern Airlines for 10 years, up until the day they closed their doors. Through her employment there, she was able to spread her wings and travel to many places she and her late husband always wanted to go. Additionally, Shirley was a member of The Eastern Star, and was also an active and vocal member of her neighborhood association within her community.

Shirley, born with a green thumb, was an avid gardener who loved to grow flowers, plants and different kinds of herbs. She took great joy in sharing her interest and her know how of gardening with those in her circle. She had a huge heart for shih-tzus in general, but her heart was with those that were rescued from an abusive life. She rescued two and dedicated much of her time and money nurturing these little dogs with less fortunate circumstances back to health. She also loved horses and was able to go horseback riding not too long ago, something on her bucket list. 

Shirley found beauty in the broken or unwanted. It was always exciting for her when she found treasures at Goodwill or other thrift shops. Often she’d find broken pieces of furniture or knick knacks that with her creative touch, would be used or turned into something beautiful.

Shirley was an exquisite cook. She made complicated dishes look so easy to make, and often made feasts fit for kings. Her specialties were her famous Pound cake, German Chocolate cake, Cream Puffs, Coconut cake and any kind of roast, particularly pork roast. Nobody ever left hungry from her house and there was always a seat at the table for the unexpected and plenty of leftovers to take home. Her cooking remains unmatched in the family. 

She was so very, very loved. May she rest in peace.

She was preceded in death by husband, Mike Donnell; mother, Viola Whaley Smith; father, W.E. Smith and a brother, Jerry L. Smith.

She is survived by her daughters; Lisa Plackett (Rick Plackett) and Jennifer Miller of Charlotte N.C; son, Dan Donnell (Anne Marie Donnell) of Fort Mill, S.C.; grandchildren, Amanda Bujorian (Anthony Bujorian) of Indian Trail, Maddie Toadvine (Noah Toadvine) of Mint Hill, NC, Caroline Donnell of Fort Mill, S,C, Jameson Donnell of Fort Mill, S.C., Mikayla Miller of Mint Hill, NC, and MacKenzie Miller of Mint Hill, N.C.; great grandchildren, Charlotte and Genevieve Bujorian with Henry Jacob Toadvine on the way; and sister, Barbara S. Fann, of Charlotte, N.C.

A Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 2:00pm Calvary Church of the Nazarene, 4000 North Sharon Amity Road Charlotte, NC 28205. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 2:00pm. 

The family is accepting flowers or donations to the following be made in her honor - The American Cancer Society, The Autism Society and the Shih-Tzu Rescue.