Donna Raynor Livingston of Lakemont passed away peacefully April 9, 2020. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Richard (“Dick”) Livingston of Lakemont; her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Clark and Sandra Raynor of Stuart, Fla.; her son, Alan Livingston, daughter-in-law Anna, York County, S.C.; daughter, Caryn Livingston Gardner and son-in-law Geoff of Winston-Salem, N.C.; and precious grandchildren Emma Scott Livingston, Lofton Livingston and Laura Catherine Gardner.
Donna was born June 21, 1944 in Greensboro, N.C., to the late William Alton Raynor and Lilla Mae Raynor. She graduated from Seabreeze Senior High School in Daytona Beach, Fla., where she met her high school sweetheart, Dick. She initially attended Florida Southern College in Lakeland. She graduated from Florida State University, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.
After graduation, Donna and Dick married and raised their family in Atlanta. She enjoyed a long, passionate career in teaching, first as a third-grade teacher in the DeKalb County, Georgia, public system and later as a devoted and enthusiastic kindergarten teacher in church-affiliated programs, where she was loved by both the students and young parents she mentored. During her early years in Atlanta, she was involved in the Foster Child Advocacy Program sponsored by the DeKalb Junior League.
Dick and Donna chose Lakemont as their full-time residence in 2013. She loved being surrounded by the beauty of the mountains and dedicated her time to volunteering in her community and church. Donna will be remembered for her many passions: caring for her family and friends, cooking, gardening, decorating and entertaining. A loving, caring mother, grandmother and friend, she endeavored to make all things better and more beautiful for others.
A celebration of Donna's life will be held at Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church on a future date when her cherished friends and family members are able to gather once again.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Donna’s memory to Rabun Gap Presbyterian Women, designated for Toiletries for Teens, Rabun Gap Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 333, Rabun Gap, GA 30568.
“The Wife of Noble Character. Many women do noble things. But you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29.