Donna Marie Thacker-Waite-Webb (Strickland), a woman whose laughter could fill an auditorium and whose heart knew no metaphorical limits (she did, indeed, die of heart failure), passed away on February 16, 2025 surrounded by family telling her best stories and laughing with her.

Born on January 2, 1958, Donna lived a life defined by resilience, compassion, and an unshakable sense of humor. Born in Indianapolis and raised in Miami, Donna lived the adapted-for-this-obituary adage - you can take the woman out of Miami, but you can never take Miami out of the woman. Even as a kid, the only thing bigger than Donna's personality was her defining curly hair. Donna played dress up in her older sister Sharon's clothes, putting on a show strutting around the house. In school she loved literature and later pursued an associate's degree in accounting, but she was born to use her experiences to connect with and help people.

In her early adult years, Donna survived and escaped domestic violence. Donna courageously built a new life for herself and her two children, Chris and Cyndi, in Georgia, where they lived first with one of her close friends and then with her brother while she got on her feet. She raised Chris and Cyndi to value honesty, loyalty, community, and integrity and taught them the power of perseverance, laughter, and finding joy in life's simplest moments. As a single mother, financial hardships were a big part of her story, and, truth be told, she lived an unjustly tough life. That said, she could have written the bestselling book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Her kids would recommend you read it, but, if you knew and loved Donna, those lessons are already a part of you.

A voracious reader with a deep respect and love for education, Donna - without a college degree, built a successful, 30-year career as an accountant, rising through the ranks with her sharp intellect, keen intuition, and gift for connecting with people. She passed her passions and tenacity onto her kids. From before Chris and Cyndi can remember, Donna told them to prioritize college - that a degree would open the world to them. She also told her kids that no matter how much our family struggled or where they came from, they could be and do anything. Chris and Cyndi took it to heart and became the first generation in their family to earn college degrees. Chris is a self-made chef, and Cyndi is a U.S. diplomat. Donna was never prouder than showing off pictures of her kids and telling stories of the lives they built, even when they were far from home. Her kids apologize for how many times you have probably been held hostage for picture showing.

Donna was blessed to know great love. After 18 years as a single mom, she married Roy "Woody" Webb, a love that brought her immense joy until his passing in 2010. Later, she found love again with Robert "Bo" Strickland, whose recent passing brought her profound sorrow. Despite her grief and long-term illnesses, Donna's thirst for life never waned. In recent years, she traveled with Bo and her daughter to Puerto Rico and Sanibel Island, and she and her daughter set sail on a cruise to the Bahamas, where she delighted in finding the biggest straw beach bag possibly ever made and staying up late to belt out oldies at singalongs on the ship.

Donna's faith was the foundation of her life, guiding her through joys and sorrows alike. She also never lost her ability to deliver an outrageous joke or spin a story that left people laughing until they cried. Donna found her greatest peace and joy at the ocean, a place that soothed her soul. Her love for animals was evident in the care she gave to her beloved - by her but not many others - parrot Taco, her cat Taffy Lou, her dog Jaxon, and all the animals she cared for throughout her life. Known for her legendary brownies, Donna expressed her love and care through cooking, often welcoming friends, family, and anyone in need of a safe haven into her warm, inviting home. Donna's door was always open, her kitchen always full, and - it cannot be overstated - her stories always unforgettable.

Donna will live on through her children, Chris and Cyndi; her sister, Sharon; her brother, Michael; her niece and nephew, Denise and John; and her great niece and nephew, John and Sheng. Her lifelong friends, drawn in by her loyalty, humor, and giving spirit, will miss her deeply. Donna's legacy is one of courage, laughter, and unconditional love. Donna leaves the world a little warmer, a little funnier, and a whole lot sweeter - especially for those lucky enough to have tasted her brownies.

Please join us Friday, February 28, 2025 at 2:30pm for visitation with the family and 3:00pm for a celebration of life service at Encounter Life Church in Newnan, Georgia. She will haunt you if you wear a suit or are too buttoned up. We invite you to wear floral, linen, Hawaiian print - anything that makes you think of the beach - and to help us send her off to paradise. Please never be afraid to say her name or tell her sister, niece, and daughter stories and memories you have of her. Be bold and brave like Donna.

Mom, sister, aunt, friend - we hope you're sipping a strawberry daiquiri in Kokomo. You are deeply missed and with us always.

Higgins Funeral Home Hillcrest Chapel is honored to serve the family of Donna Webb. Please visit www.hillcrestchapelcares.com to share your memories or leave a condolence message