Lillian Jeanette Ford-Donnally
Class of 1970
|
Chesapeake - Lillian Jeanette Ford Donnally, 61, of Chesapeake, Va.,
departed this earth on March 2, 2013 to be with the Lord after an
incredibly courageous 13-year battle with breast cancer.
Lillian is survived by her loving husband, Vincent Donnally; their
three daughters, Kristin Donnally Hodges and husband Michael, Megan
Donnally and Lauren Donnally; her sister, Linda Ford and husband
John Hall; a nephew, Wesley Hall; a special caretaker, whom she
loved as a son, Jess Wayne Hall II.
She was born in Portsmouth, Va., to the late Rex Herman and Clemmie
Ensley Ford. Lillian was a proud honors graduate of Cradock High
School and Radford University. She earned a Master's Degree in
Education and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Old Dominion
University. Lillian began her career as an English and Journalism
teacher at Great Bridge High School. She was then promoted to
assistant principal at Deep Creek High School. She assisted in plans
for Chesapeake's Center for Science and Technology before moving to
Virginia Beach Public Schools to serve as an educational planner.
Lillian considered one of her finest accomplishments in public
education to be Open Campus High School in Virginia Beach, a program
which she designed, implemented, and proudly served as first
principal. In this role, Lillian helped students facing a variety of
obstacles to earning a diploma, many of whom were forced to face
adult responsibilities much too early in life. A number of these
students were single teen parents who balanced attending high
school, holding down a job, and caring for their children; some
others were young adults who had lost parents through death,
divorce, or incarceration. Lillian knew that, for such at-risk
students, survival was their first priority, and she sought to
provide an opportunity for them not only to survive, but also to
thrive with the benefit of a high school diploma. She also served as
principal for the Virginia Beach Adult Learning Center, retiring in
2005 after 30 faithful years of service to education. She was a
member of Chesapeake Public School Administrators (CAPSA), Virginia
Beach Education Association, and a past president of Virginia Beach
Secondary School Administrators.
Lillian was a member of Great Bridge United Methodist Church. Her
greatest love in life was her family. She was also passionate for
her students, fellow teachers and educators. Lillian was an
inspiration to many and never let cancer take away her positive
attitude and determination. Her incredible presence will be missed,
but never forgotten.
The funeral service will be conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 5,
2013 at Great Bridge United Methodist Church. Rev. Danny J. Kesner
will officiate. The interment will follow at Chesapeake Memorial
Gardens. The family will be receiving friends at the Eagle Pointe
Bay Club in Chesapeake, VA, following the interment.
The viewing will begin on Monday with the family receiving friends
from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Great Bridge Chapel of Oman Funeral Home &
Crematory, 653 Cedar Road, Chesapeake.
The family would like to gratefully acknowledge the outstanding care
given by Virginia Oncology Associates, Dr. Thomas Alberico, Linda
Sawyer, Nurse Debbie, medical assistant Megan, and Sentara Home
Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Lillian J. Donnally
Memorial Scholarship Fund held at any Towne Bank. Scholarship funds
will be evenly divided between Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake
and Renaissance Academy in Virginia Beach.
Friends are invited to sign the online guest book at www.omanfh.com
|