Donna Lane Wilkerson Daughtry

Donna Lane Wilkerson Daughtry, 76, of Raleigh, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and friend went to be with our Lord on November 28, 2016. A graveside service will be held honoring Donna at 1:00 pm Thursday, December  1 at Montlawn Memorial Park in Raleigh, N.C.  The service will be conducted by Dr. Jeff Roberts of Trinity Baptist Church. Donna was born on November 24, 1940 in Wake County. She graduated from Needham Broughton High school in 1959 and then attended Peace College. Early in Donnas professional career she worked in the Department of Geography at East Carolina University. Donna loved to be involved with youth of any kind and was a house mother and chapter director for the East Carolina University chapter of Alpha Xi Delta in the late 1960s and was an active parent member for the MYF at Ayden United Methodist Church. Donna worked a variety of office management jobs over the years but was best known for her successful endeavors in fundraising  (public and private sector), as well as operating  one of the largest equestrian riding programs in Eastern N.C.  known as Hayfield Farm. Donna was a founding member of the N.C. Eastern Hunter Association in the late 1970s, she served on a steering committee for Martin Community College during the formation of their Equine Management program in the 1980s, and participated with others in the horse community to support the first USEF rated Duke Childrens Benefit Horse show in 1985 (now known as “Jump for the Children” and is one of the longest annually held horse shows in N.C.).   Donna had talents above and beyond the equine field, she also worked as a campaign and office manager for former N.C. Senators.  Donna was recognized as Outstanding Business Woman of the Year by the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce in 1992.  In 1999, Donna took on a new focus and moved back to Raleigh to be near her elderly mother and spend time with her family. She retired from the State of North Carolina in 2006 after working in the Division of Tourism where she was awarded the Governors Award for excellent service. In recent years Donna focused on caring for her dear mother, volunteering at Trinity Baptist Church, knitting heartfelt items for her loved ones, cheering on her grandchildren in all of their endeavors and spending time with her many friends and special cousins. Donna was a founding member of the Little Darlins, a social group made up of her fellow women classmates from Needham Broughton High School. Throughout her life, Donna touched many lives with her compassion for others, immense sense of humor, quick wit and never-ending dedication to her family.  Donna was affectionately known by her grandchildren as “Muvy” and “Muff” .  She is survived by her daughters, Laura Daughtry of Mebane, Grace “Missy” Smith (Lowell) of Oxford, a son Alan Daughtry (Lisa) of Apex; and six grandchildren: Michael Zalimeni (Emily) of Carrboro, Kelsey Zalimeni of London England, Blake Smith of Oxford,  Matthew Daughtry and Bailey Foote both of Greenville;  her brother, Charley Walker Stokes, Jr. (Kay) of Puyallup WA and an uncle, Charles F. Jones of Charleston S.C., half sisters Carol Ann Wilkerson and Joan Collins of California, and  her step mother Margie Wilkerson of California. She is also survived by her beloved  nieces, nephews and cousins. Donna was preceded in death by her parents: Hazel Jones, John Milton Wilkerson, Charles W. Stokes, Sr. and her beloved mother, Helen Wilkerson Stokes King. Donna was a faithful servant to her church. Flowers will be accepted or memorials can be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 4815 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC.  or the N.C. School of Veterinary Medicine.