Donna May Hexham, In Loving Memory
This week, a community in County Durham said goodbye to a woman whose warmth clearly touched everyone around her. Donna May has passed away, and the tributes pouring in from family and friends paint a picture of someone who was deeply loved, generous of spirit, and unafraid to be exactly who she was.
Donna’s family has asked that her funeral be nothing short of a celebration. Rather than the traditional black attire so often associated with mourning, mourners are being encouraged to wear bright colours — a fitting final request from a woman who, by all accounts, wanted people to feel comfortable and true to themselves, even in grief. “Donna would want you to wear whatever makes you feel comfortable,” her family shared, a simple line that speaks volumes about the kind of person she was: thoughtful, easygoing, and more concerned with others’ comfort than convention.
The funeral service will take place at 3pm on Tuesday 21st July at Durham Crematorium, followed by a gathering at The Mill Inn on Durham Road in Houghton-le-Spring, where friends and family will come together to share stories, laughter, and no doubt a few tears as they honour her memory.
Perhaps the most telling detail of all is Donna’s family’s request in lieu of flowers. Instead of the customary bouquets, they’ve asked that guests bring cash donations for the Free Woman’s Community in Durham — an organisation that clearly played a meaningful role in Donna’s life. It’s a request that suggests Donna was someone who believed in supporting other women, in community, and in giving back to the people and causes that had once supported her.
While the details of Donna’s life beyond these final wishes remain known only to those who loved her, what shines through in this announcement is a portrait of generosity, authenticity, and connection. She was someone surrounded by people who cared enough to organise a celebration in her honour, someone whose final wishes centred on comfort and giving rather than formality and flowers.
To Donna’s family and friends: thank you for sharing a glimpse of her spirit with the wider community. As you gather on the 21st in bright colours, raising a glass at The Mill Inn, know that her memory — and her generosity — will live on through the community she cared so much about.
Rest in peace, Donna.