Della Donna-Matthews

Precious Memories Della Mae Ramsey Donna-Matthews As beautiful as a rose to see, was her life she lived so gracefully. She made things precious by her touch; her selfless love lives on in each of us. The petals of her life fell one by one; each a gift of her heart till there were none. Yet her radiance blooms once again in fields of glory with no end. Della Mae Ramsey Donna-Matthews was born in Waco, Texas to her parents, Willie "Bill" and Ella Mae McNeil Ramsey on June 20, 1925. Three years later, her parents and young sister, Lucille moved to Porter, Oklahoma where she was reared and educated in the elementary school system and achieved high honors. Della also represented Wagoner County in 4-H Clubs, and other state and school activities. During a revival service at the age of 10, Della accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Porter, Oklahoma under the pastoral leadership of the late Reverend Hemphill. She was an active, dedicated and loyal member in all departments of the church, including Sunday School, Youth Choir, B.T.U. and many mission activities. At the age of 16, Della graduated from Manual Training High School, now known as Muskogee High in Muskogee Oklahoma. From 1943-1944, Della received training in the National Youth Administration (NYA) and was certified for employment in Aircraft Fabrication at Boeing Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. From 1944-1945, she received training at General Hospital #2 in Kansas, City, Missouri. While working as a Secretary at Graham Brothers Funeral Home in Kansas City, Missouri, Della was certified at the Graduate Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago Illinois and worked there from 1945-1947. Della also worked as File Clerk at Alden Mail Orders in Chicago, Illinois. In 1947, Della served as Secretary for the Agricultural Extension Service County Agent's Office in Porter, Oklahoma.. During 1948-1949, Della received a scholarship to Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma from the Creek District Baptist Association. She was First Place Winner in an oratorical contest using the subject "Why I am a Baptist." Rev., A.L. Branch was the Moderator. While continuing studies, Della worked as a Secretary to the Dean of Women's Office, Mrs. Buford Lee at Sanford Hall in Langston, Oklahoma. After relocating to Denver, Colorado in 1951, she married Grant W. Donna. She was the mother of one daughter, Linda Faye J. Donna. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother, whose pride and joy was found in the care and nurture of her family. On March 28, 1993, Grant preceded her in death.. In August of 2002, she wed George H. Matthews, Jr. They shared many happy and precious moments together. George preceded her in death on July 28, 2009. In 1953, Della joined Zion Baptist Church under the Pastoral leadership of the late Rev. Dr. Wendell T. Liggins. At Zion, Della was a member of Circle No. One Mission Circle (later organized as Circle No. Ten-Naomi Circle); a member of Matron's Drama Club; 3rd Vice President of the Mission Ministry with Esther Nash as General President; Head Counselor of the Youth Department "Sunshine and Rosebuds" through Y W A Groups; National Rosebud and Red Circle Counselor and Foreign Mission Representative; she sponsored the "International Tea" for several years with Ruth Collier assisting in the Missionary Ministry and served as Church Clerk for Zion Baptist Church. In 2003, she was able to join the prestigious list of Fifty Year Members of Zion Baptist Church and this year will mark 63 years of membership. Zion Baptist Church, where Reverend, Wendell T. Liggins served as Pastor for over sixty five years; and since 1993, has been under the Pastoral leadership of Reverend Frank M. Davis. Zion Baptist Church celebrated its 150th Church Anniversary in November, 2015. Della attended the gala and was happy and proud to share in such a momentous occasion. Della has never been a stranger to work; from 1953 through 1965, Della was employed at Hilb and Company, which at that time was located at 17th & Lawrence Street in Denver, Colorado. From 1965 through 1967, she worked at Howard Pharmacy, where Albert J. Howard was the Owner. From 1965 through 1985, she attended Metropolitan State College and worked in the Denver Public School System. In 1975, Della graduated from Metro State College with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Elementary Education, and a Minor Degree in Reading. Della retired from the Denver Public School System in 1990, after teaching for twenty-five years. Many of her classroom educational programs at Godsman Elementary School included Black History, where she frequently shared her classroom with Icon and Founder of the Black American West Museum, Paul Stewart. As a social organization participant, Della pledged the undergraduate chapter – Lamda Alpha Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma in 1950. In 1970, she joined the graduate chapter of Zeta Zeta Zeta Chapter and became a Silver Dove in the year 2000 through the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. At the age of 90 years "young" on March 12, 2016, Della was awarded with a certificate as a "Living Legend" from the Sorority as their eldest member and also recognized as a Zeta Phi Beta's member for the longest number of years in good standing at 65 years of membership! In 1966, Della became a member of Lone Star Chapter #1, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation and was elected Worthy Matron in 1975. This organization using PH Resources was founded by Charlotte S. Ware. Della was celebrated as an "Inaugural Living Legend in 2008. In 1998, Della joined the AARP Rainbow Chapter #4326, in which she later served as President for the group. Della Donna-Matthews ultimately became an entrepreneurial business partner with several independent businesses. One was in the travel industry, where she and her husband George became owners of D & G Travel. She was also in a business venture called N.S.A. which was a water filtration system, she was involved in Nikon health products and Contempo Fashion Jewelry which she truly enjoyed and still today, has available jewelry to sell! Della continued to be an active member in all her religious and social organizations as best she could and at the time of her passing she enjoyed the retirement lifestyle by playing "bingo", with her retirement residences both at Sunrise and Garden Plaza Senior Living Communities. Not only did she enjoy bingo, she enjoyed dominoes, playing solitaire and watching movies on a regular basis. Della's role model and mentor was Lola Dean who resided in Porter, Oklahoma. She passed in January of 2015, at the age of 104. Mrs. Dean also attended Manual Training High School, Langston University, was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, a retired educator and managed a 500-acre farm with cattle. Just a few months prior to her death, Mrs. Dean achieved the accomplishment of being inducted into the Oklahoma African American Educators Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Della was there to support Mrs. Dean and celebrate her accomplishment. Della and Lola Dean were both diligent workers in the Mount Bethel Baptist Church, where they grew up together in the communities of Tallahassee, Porter and Wagoner, Oklahoma. In February, 2016, Della was diagnosed with an incurable, non-treatable disease, and though she required 24-hour medical care supervision, she remained active and mobile with the use of a wheelchair. This incapacity did not stop her; it simply inconveniently slowed her down. June 4, 2016, Della was selected as a recipient of a 2016 "Random Acts of Kindness Award" sponsored by "Sisters Enterprises". On June 20, 2016, Della celebrated her 91st birthday with a surprise party given by her daughter, Linda. The event was well attended with over 80 individuals present. Including many members from Zion Baptist Church, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Order of the Eastern Star, NE Neighbors, friends and family members with some driving in from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Additionally, during her 91st birthday celebration, Della received a birthday card and acknowledgement of her special day from President Barack Hussein and Michelle Obama. Even at the age of 91, Della's love for creative art and teaching has merited her even more awards, "literally"! While residing at the Sunrise Living Facility and during one of the art sessions there, Della free handedly and by memory created a watercolor picture of her childhood Church in Tallahassee. The name of the Church was called - "Mt. Bethel". The watercolor picture was submitted by the Sunrise Facility to the Alzheimer's Association Memories in the Making Art Auction Contest. An annual program sponsored by The Denver Broncos and hosted at the Pat Bowlen Field House at UC Health Training Center On March 1, 2017, Della received a Congratulatory letter from the Alzheimer's Association Colorado Chapter, Inc., notifying her "Mt. Bethel" watercolor painting was one of the 130 paintings in the final selection from nearly 5, 000 pieces submitted to be sold in the Art Auction. Always the "Teacher", as a mentor, Della enjoys instructing her 7 year old art student, Aniyah, who came to visit and receive art instructions while sharing the enjoyment of drawing and coloring pictures every Sunday afternoon at her living facility at Garden Plaza. Della's favorite scripture is the Twenty-Third Psalm and her favorite songs were" Precious Memories and If I Can Help Somebody." Della loved to tell of her many life experiences and to share memories of her past just as much as she had the spirit to help people. Helping people is what she enjoyed doing most, She lived her life like the words of one of her favorite songs, "If I Can Help Somebody as I travel along then my living shall not be in vain." Della leaves a legacy to be cherished for generations. She is preceded in death by, George H. Matthews, Jr., Grant W. Donna; her parents, Willie and Ella Ramsey; her sister, Lucille Allen-Ratcliff; niece, Ernestine Morgan, nephews, Walter E. Allen Jr., and Willie E. Allen. To plant a seed in one's heart…to root it in love… To nourish it with time spent together… Yields a blossom that will flourish forever. On April 29, 2017, Della M. Donna-Matthews departed this life to the embrace of the Lord in Aurora, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include her only child, Linda Faye J. Donna,

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 5/7/2017 at 12:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 5/8/2017 at 10:00 AM - Zion Baptist Church - 933 East 24th Avenue, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 5/8/2017 at 2:00 PM - Fort Logan National Cemetery - 4400 W. Kenyon Ave., Denver, CO
Family Gathering: 5/8/2017 - Following The Interment Zion Baptist Church - 926 E. 24th Ave., Denver, CO