Daughter of Louis Ost and Myrtle Ost. Wife of Lewis Donelson.
Janice Donelson was many things: a wife and mother, a political activist and lover of life. But at heart, she was a storyteller. "She told stories for children at schools, and for senior citizens. She was just a very good storyteller," said her husband, Lewis Donelson. "It was a knack she had and she loved doing it." Mrs. Donelson, a former president of the Story Tellers League, died Wednesday after an apparent heart attack. She was 88. While she could spin a yarn to anyone, her family said, Mrs. Donelson had a special fondness for entertaining kids. That began with her own children and grandchildren, who would often gather around for one of her tales. "She told us stories all the time," said her son, Lewis Donelson IV. "Everybody loved her stories. She was probably a storyteller mostly for children." That ability to entertain with a tale likely grew from her own outlook on life: It was meant to be lived, and lived with enjoyment, her son said. "She believed life should be joyous. She pursued that her whole life," he said. "Life was something wonderful and beautiful, to be celebrated." As an example, he pointed to a recent trip to Burlington, Vt., to attend her granddaughter's graduation. A diabetic for more than 50 years, Mrs. Donelson was also recovering from a recently broken neck. Of course, that didn't stop her from trekking nearly halfway across the country to see her only granddaughter graduate. "To get her to (there) was a huge, huge task. But my mother just has to go," her son said. "For her, the amount of effort that it took for her to do that was enormous. But when you're doing it with her, there's never any sense that it's an effort." Mrs. Donelson was also among those behind efforts to revamp the area Republican Party, beginning in the 1950s. She helped lead neighborhood meetings in people's homes to introduce them to the Republican Party. She also served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. For Cissy Duane, who thought of Mrs. Donelson as an extra mother, she'll always remember her welcoming personality. "She always displayed the epitome of hospitality," she said. "And there was always an extra place at the table." In addition to her husband of 65 years and her son, Mrs. Donelson also leaves two daughters, Janice Goddard and Katharine Daniel; her brother, Jerry Ost; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall. (Author/Byline Jody Callahan, published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on September 20, 2010)
Additional information provided by Find A Grave contributor Brenda Black Watson (46634709):
Janice Ost Donelson, died September 22, 2010 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. It would be a mockery to state her age. She believed that you were as young as you felt and she was always young in spirit. She had a busy, fruitful, and victorious life. She loved life, the world, her family, her friends, and her God. She was active in the Story Tellers League for many years, serving as its President and telling stories to young students and senior citizens. She was a great story teller. In the 1950s Jan was among the group of young Memphians who created a new Republican party in Shelby County and the State of Tennessee. She served as President of the Republican Workshops, which used a technique of neighborhood meetings in homes to bring members into the Republican Party. Her tireless efforts and her warm personality helped to build a county-wide organization, not of fat cats, but of ordinary people who became involved in politics, to build a two party system and a powerful grassroots organization that grew from a handful of supporters to become a dominant political force in Shelby County in the 1970s and 80s. She sought no glory, nor office, but only to create a better community. She served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. She loved Rhodes College and enjoyed participating in its activities. She was predeceased by her father Louis G. Ost, her mother Myrtle Stewart Ost and her brother Louis G. Ost Jr., a Memphis architect. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Lewis R. Donelson III, founding partner of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, and Berkowitz, her son Lewis R. Donelson IV, ordained minister and Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, her daughters, Janice Donelson Goddard, for many years Operations Director of a Montessori School in Knoxville, TN, and Katharine Loring Donelson Daniel, a bankruptcy analyst for the Department of Justice, five grandchildren, Donelson Howell, Mason Howell, James Martin Donelson, David Daniel Jr., and Sarah Donelson, and her brother Jerry Ost. Memorials can be sent to the Third Church of Christ Scientists, Rhodes College or the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, September 24, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the T.K. Young Fellowship Hall. Canale Funeral Directors (Published in The Commercial Appeal on Sep. 23, 2010)
Contributor: Brenda Black Watson (46634709) • [email protected]
View Memorial
Janice Donelson was many things: a wife and mother, a political activist and lover of life. But at heart, she was a storyteller. "She told stories for children at schools, and for senior citizens. She was just a very good storyteller," said her husband, Lewis Donelson. "It was a knack she had and she loved doing it." Mrs. Donelson, a former president of the Story Tellers League, died Wednesday after an apparent heart attack. She was 88. While she could spin a yarn to anyone, her family said, Mrs. Donelson had a special fondness for entertaining kids. That began with her own children and grandchildren, who would often gather around for one of her tales. "She told us stories all the time," said her son, Lewis Donelson IV. "Everybody loved her stories. She was probably a storyteller mostly for children." That ability to entertain with a tale likely grew from her own outlook on life: It was meant to be lived, and lived with enjoyment, her son said. "She believed life should be joyous. She pursued that her whole life," he said. "Life was something wonderful and beautiful, to be celebrated." As an example, he pointed to a recent trip to Burlington, Vt., to attend her granddaughter's graduation. A diabetic for more than 50 years, Mrs. Donelson was also recovering from a recently broken neck. Of course, that didn't stop her from trekking nearly halfway across the country to see her only granddaughter graduate. "To get her to (there) was a huge, huge task. But my mother just has to go," her son said. "For her, the amount of effort that it took for her to do that was enormous. But when you're doing it with her, there's never any sense that it's an effort." Mrs. Donelson was also among those behind efforts to revamp the area Republican Party, beginning in the 1950s. She helped lead neighborhood meetings in people's homes to introduce them to the Republican Party. She also served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. For Cissy Duane, who thought of Mrs. Donelson as an extra mother, she'll always remember her welcoming personality. "She always displayed the epitome of hospitality," she said. "And there was always an extra place at the table." In addition to her husband of 65 years and her son, Mrs. Donelson also leaves two daughters, Janice Goddard and Katharine Daniel; her brother, Jerry Ost; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall. (Author/Byline Jody Callahan, published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on September 20, 2010)
Additional information provided by Find A Grave contributor Brenda Black Watson (46634709):
Janice Ost Donelson, died September 22, 2010 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. It would be a mockery to state her age. She believed that you were as young as you felt and she was always young in spirit. She had a busy, fruitful, and victorious life. She loved life, the world, her family, her friends, and her God. She was active in the Story Tellers League for many years, serving as its President and telling stories to young students and senior citizens. She was a great story teller. In the 1950s Jan was among the group of young Memphians who created a new Republican party in Shelby County and the State of Tennessee. She served as President of the Republican Workshops, which used a technique of neighborhood meetings in homes to bring members into the Republican Party. Her tireless efforts and her warm personality helped to build a county-wide organization, not of fat cats, but of ordinary people who became involved in politics, to build a two party system and a powerful grassroots organization that grew from a handful of supporters to become a dominant political force in Shelby County in the 1970s and 80s. She sought no glory, nor office, but only to create a better community. She served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. She loved Rhodes College and enjoyed participating in its activities. She was predeceased by her father Louis G. Ost, her mother Myrtle Stewart Ost and her brother Louis G. Ost Jr., a Memphis architect. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Lewis R. Donelson III, founding partner of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, and Berkowitz, her son Lewis R. Donelson IV, ordained minister and Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, her daughters, Janice Donelson Goddard, for many years Operations Director of a Montessori School in Knoxville, TN, and Katharine Loring Donelson Daniel, a bankruptcy analyst for the Department of Justice, five grandchildren, Donelson Howell, Mason Howell, James Martin Donelson, David Daniel Jr., and Sarah Donelson, and her brother Jerry Ost. Memorials can be sent to the Third Church of Christ Scientists, Rhodes College or the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, September 24, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the T.K. Young Fellowship Hall. Canale Funeral Directors (Published in The Commercial Appeal on Sep. 23, 2010)
Contributor: Brenda Black Watson (46634709) • [email protected]
View Memorial
Daughter of Louis Ost and Myrtle Ost. Wife of Lewis Donelson.
Janice Donelson was many things: a wife and mother, a political activist and lover of life. But at heart, she was a storyteller. "She told stories for children at schools, and for senior citizens. She was just a very good storyteller," said her husband, Lewis Donelson. "It was a knack she had and she loved doing it." Mrs. Donelson, a former president of the Story Tellers League, died Wednesday after an apparent heart attack. She was 88. While she could spin a yarn to anyone, her family said, Mrs. Donelson had a special fondness for entertaining kids. That began with her own children and grandchildren, who would often gather around for one of her tales. "She told us stories all the time," said her son, Lewis Donelson IV. "Everybody loved her stories. She was probably a storyteller mostly for children." That ability to entertain with a tale likely grew from her own outlook on life: It was meant to be lived, and lived with enjoyment, her son said. "She believed life should be joyous. She pursued that her whole life," he said. "Life was something wonderful and beautiful, to be celebrated." As an example, he pointed to a recent trip to Burlington, Vt., to attend her granddaughter's graduation. A diabetic for more than 50 years, Mrs. Donelson was also recovering from a recently broken neck. Of course, that didn't stop her from trekking nearly halfway across the country to see her only granddaughter graduate. "To get her to (there) was a huge, huge task. But my mother just has to go," her son said. "For her, the amount of effort that it took for her to do that was enormous. But when you're doing it with her, there's never any sense that it's an effort." Mrs. Donelson was also among those behind efforts to revamp the area Republican Party, beginning in the 1950s. She helped lead neighborhood meetings in people's homes to introduce them to the Republican Party. She also served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. For Cissy Duane, who thought of Mrs. Donelson as an extra mother, she'll always remember her welcoming personality. "She always displayed the epitome of hospitality," she said. "And there was always an extra place at the table." In addition to her husband of 65 years and her son, Mrs. Donelson also leaves two daughters, Janice Goddard and Katharine Daniel; her brother, Jerry Ost; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall. (Author/Byline Jody Callahan, published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on September 20, 2010)
Additional information provided by Find A Grave contributor Brenda Black Watson (46634709):
Janice Ost Donelson, died September 22, 2010 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. It would be a mockery to state her age. She believed that you were as young as you felt and she was always young in spirit. She had a busy, fruitful, and victorious life. She loved life, the world, her family, her friends, and her God. She was active in the Story Tellers League for many years, serving as its President and telling stories to young students and senior citizens. She was a great story teller. In the 1950s Jan was among the group of young Memphians who created a new Republican party in Shelby County and the State of Tennessee. She served as President of the Republican Workshops, which used a technique of neighborhood meetings in homes to bring members into the Republican Party. Her tireless efforts and her warm personality helped to build a county-wide organization, not of fat cats, but of ordinary people who became involved in politics, to build a two party system and a powerful grassroots organization that grew from a handful of supporters to become a dominant political force in Shelby County in the 1970s and 80s. She sought no glory, nor office, but only to create a better community. She served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. She loved Rhodes College and enjoyed participating in its activities. She was predeceased by her father Louis G. Ost, her mother Myrtle Stewart Ost and her brother Louis G. Ost Jr., a Memphis architect. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Lewis R. Donelson III, founding partner of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, and Berkowitz, her son Lewis R. Donelson IV, ordained minister and Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, her daughters, Janice Donelson Goddard, for many years Operations Director of a Montessori School in Knoxville, TN, and Katharine Loring Donelson Daniel, a bankruptcy analyst for the Department of Justice, five grandchildren, Donelson Howell, Mason Howell, James Martin Donelson, David Daniel Jr., and Sarah Donelson, and her brother Jerry Ost. Memorials can be sent to the Third Church of Christ Scientists, Rhodes College or the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, September 24, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the T.K. Young Fellowship Hall. Canale Funeral Directors (Published in The Commercial Appeal on Sep. 23, 2010)
Contributor: Brenda Black Watson (46634709) • [email protected]
View Memorial
Janice Donelson was many things: a wife and mother, a political activist and lover of life. But at heart, she was a storyteller. "She told stories for children at schools, and for senior citizens. She was just a very good storyteller," said her husband, Lewis Donelson. "It was a knack she had and she loved doing it." Mrs. Donelson, a former president of the Story Tellers League, died Wednesday after an apparent heart attack. She was 88. While she could spin a yarn to anyone, her family said, Mrs. Donelson had a special fondness for entertaining kids. That began with her own children and grandchildren, who would often gather around for one of her tales. "She told us stories all the time," said her son, Lewis Donelson IV. "Everybody loved her stories. She was probably a storyteller mostly for children." That ability to entertain with a tale likely grew from her own outlook on life: It was meant to be lived, and lived with enjoyment, her son said. "She believed life should be joyous. She pursued that her whole life," he said. "Life was something wonderful and beautiful, to be celebrated." As an example, he pointed to a recent trip to Burlington, Vt., to attend her granddaughter's graduation. A diabetic for more than 50 years, Mrs. Donelson was also recovering from a recently broken neck. Of course, that didn't stop her from trekking nearly halfway across the country to see her only granddaughter graduate. "To get her to (there) was a huge, huge task. But my mother just has to go," her son said. "For her, the amount of effort that it took for her to do that was enormous. But when you're doing it with her, there's never any sense that it's an effort." Mrs. Donelson was also among those behind efforts to revamp the area Republican Party, beginning in the 1950s. She helped lead neighborhood meetings in people's homes to introduce them to the Republican Party. She also served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. For Cissy Duane, who thought of Mrs. Donelson as an extra mother, she'll always remember her welcoming personality. "She always displayed the epitome of hospitality," she said. "And there was always an extra place at the table." In addition to her husband of 65 years and her son, Mrs. Donelson also leaves two daughters, Janice Goddard and Katharine Daniel; her brother, Jerry Ost; and five grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. today at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the fellowship hall. (Author/Byline Jody Callahan, published in The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN, on September 20, 2010)
Additional information provided by Find A Grave contributor Brenda Black Watson (46634709):
Janice Ost Donelson, died September 22, 2010 at Baptist Memorial Hospital. It would be a mockery to state her age. She believed that you were as young as you felt and she was always young in spirit. She had a busy, fruitful, and victorious life. She loved life, the world, her family, her friends, and her God. She was active in the Story Tellers League for many years, serving as its President and telling stories to young students and senior citizens. She was a great story teller. In the 1950s Jan was among the group of young Memphians who created a new Republican party in Shelby County and the State of Tennessee. She served as President of the Republican Workshops, which used a technique of neighborhood meetings in homes to bring members into the Republican Party. Her tireless efforts and her warm personality helped to build a county-wide organization, not of fat cats, but of ordinary people who became involved in politics, to build a two party system and a powerful grassroots organization that grew from a handful of supporters to become a dominant political force in Shelby County in the 1970s and 80s. She sought no glory, nor office, but only to create a better community. She served on the State Republican Committee for 10 years. She loved Rhodes College and enjoyed participating in its activities. She was predeceased by her father Louis G. Ost, her mother Myrtle Stewart Ost and her brother Louis G. Ost Jr., a Memphis architect. She is survived by her husband of 65 years Lewis R. Donelson III, founding partner of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell, and Berkowitz, her son Lewis R. Donelson IV, ordained minister and Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, her daughters, Janice Donelson Goddard, for many years Operations Director of a Montessori School in Knoxville, TN, and Katharine Loring Donelson Daniel, a bankruptcy analyst for the Department of Justice, five grandchildren, Donelson Howell, Mason Howell, James Martin Donelson, David Daniel Jr., and Sarah Donelson, and her brother Jerry Ost. Memorials can be sent to the Third Church of Christ Scientists, Rhodes College or the charity of the donor's choice. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Friday, September 24, at Idlewild Presbyterian Church, with visitation to follow in the T.K. Young Fellowship Hall. Canale Funeral Directors (Published in The Commercial Appeal on Sep. 23, 2010)
Contributor: Brenda Black Watson (46634709) • [email protected]
View Memorial
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
