First Lady Donna Marie Walls

Donna Marie Hughes Payne Walls was born on November 21, 1931, in Columbus, Ohio, as the only child of the late Edward Lyle Payne and Jessie Ardella Hughes Payne. She was blessed to have two older and dear siblings from her father's former marriage to his late wife: Melvin Eugene Payne and Verna Mae Payne Bozeman.

She attended public school and graduated from South High School, and was a model student. She had aspirations of becoming a physician, but she pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Social Work from The Ohio State University, fulfilling her mother's desires for her. After graduating, she taught public school for two years and decided it wasn't her cup of tea. She pursued social work and was employed at the Franklin County Department of Human Services and retired after 35 years of faithful and dedicated service.

She married James Douglas Walls, a native of Washington, DC, in 1962, having met him while he was serving as evangelist at Wayne Avenue Church of God in Columbus, Ohio. To this union were born Quentin Douglas and Janice Marie. She was a loving mother and an equally caring grandmother to her grandsons Darius, Ross, Caleb, Christopher, Donovan, and Omar-Zaccai. She was thrilled when her granddaughter, Serenity, arrived. Lady Donna enjoyed knitting, reading, and clipping coupons until she was diagnosed with macular degeneration and was no longer able to.

Since 1968, when her husband accepted the pastorate of the Church of God in Xenia, Ohio, she served faithfully as the First Lady. She was very active in her church until her health began to decline. She served for a time as the pianist, choir directress, choir member, member of the Bell Choir, and the Pastor's secretary. She enjoyed traveling with her husband of 63 years and together, they visited many states in the US as well as numerous countries and islands throughout the Caribbean. They thoroughly enjoyed cruising and went annually to somewhere they hadn't previously been. They also traveled to Canada, Bermuda, Europe, and Asia. They participated in the 8th World Conference of the Church of God in Seoul, Korea, and also visited Hong Kong, China, and Tokyo, Japan. Then in 1999, they attended the 11th World Conference of the Church of God in England, and while there, had excursions to Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. They continued to enjoy their travels until September 2019, where their last cruise was from Boston to Bermuda and back.

During July of each year, she happily traveled to Washington, DC, to visit her loving family by marriage, and in early August of each year, they looked forward to attending camp meeting on Zion's Hill, West Middlesex, PA. They always had lovely accommodations, a trailer in the early years and later a two-bedroom mobile home. They enjoyed having family and friends come to visit and looked forward to the services each day.

Lady Donna was last able to attend church for her 93rd birthday celebration, where the saints showered her with love and cards and a beautiful program and meal.

Lady Donna spent the last nine months of her life at Brookdale Senior Living, where she was lovingly cared for. She was known for her beautiful smile and selflessness. Even in her last days, she asked others, "Are you OK?" Her last three days, her husband was moved in to be by her side, and he was awakened in the wee hours of the morning with the sad news of her homegoing. She had, even in death, that beautiful smile and the most peaceful look that anyone would ever want to see.

Lady Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Jessie Payne; her brother, Melvin Payne; her sister, Verna Bozeman; sisters-in-law, Mildred Behlin and Dorine Walls; brothers-in-law, Carl Bozeman, James Behlin, and Bennie Walls. She leaves to cherish her memory her beloved husband of 63 years, James Douglas Walls; brothers-in-law Timothy Walls of Hyattsville, MD; George (Sharon) Walls of Fort Washington, MD; Clarence (Ada) Walls of Beavercreek, OH; her children: Quentin (Robin) of Pickerington, OH; Janice (Rufus) Wiggins of Chapin, SC; her grandchildren: Christopher (Monica) Walls of Circleville, OH; Darius Hill, Dayton, OH; Ross (Tasha) Hill, Dayton, OH, Caleb Hill, Columbus, OH; Donovan Hill, Milwaukee, WI; Omar-Zaccai Hill, Hanover, MD; and Serenity Hill, Columbus, OH. She had an "adopted" daughter in Sheila Santiago, Trotwood, OH, 3 special "grandsons" in Reon (Tishanna) Dawson, Westland, MI; Ryan Dawson, West Carrollton, OH; and Ryland Dawson, Trotwood, OH, and a godson, Tyrone Scott of TX. There are numerous loving and very special nieces and nephews in Ohio, Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and a cousin, Lynne Kelley, in Detroit, MI.