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Donnell Key Obituary
Donnell Edward Key Sr.
Donnell Edward Key Sr., 61, of Charlottesville, departed this life on Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at Baltimore Washington Medical Center.
He was born on August 4, 1948, to the late Floyd W. Key Sr. and the late Maxine Williams Key. In addition, to his parents, Donnell was preceded in death by two brothers, Floyd W. Key, Jr. and Raymond A. Key.
Donnell served 23 years of active duty in the United States Army, retiring as an E8 (Master Sergeant). Following retirement he worked two years in Germany and 12 years in Japan for the United States Government with the Department of Navy, and Defense Logistics Agency. After returning to the United States, he was employed with The Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 39 years, Veronica Edwina Curry Key; one son, Donnell E. Key Jr. a Chief Warrant Office Three in the United States Army; four sisters, Carolyn K. and her husband, Ernest B. Allen Jr., of Charlottesville, Linda K. and her husband, Robert McCurdy Sr., of Washington, D.C., and Tutlenia Gardner and Travis Key, both of Charlottesville; a brother, William Redd of Charlottesville; three step-brothers, Larry Mills of Washington, D.C., Gary and Carl Mills, both of South Carolina; two sisters-in-law, Nancy L. Key of Charlottesville and Kathy Pullen of Richmond, Virginia; two brothers-in-law, Tyrone Curry of Charlottesville and Hans Pryor of Chow Chilla, California. He is also survived by four aunts Annie Keyes, Geneva Keyes, and Mrs. Geraldine Minor, all of Charlottesville, and Shirley K. Wells of Elmont, New York; two uncles, Leroy Keyes of Charlottesville and Glen Keyes of Norfolk; a devoted mother-in-law, Mrs. Ellen Jones; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at Union Run Baptist Church in Keswick with the Reverend Rickey White officiating. The body will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment with military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery 1 p.m. Thursday, January 7, 2010.
To pay condolences to the family, please sign the guest book at www.jfbellfuneralhome.com. J. F. Bell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
This obituary was originally published in the Daily Progress.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Alfred Harris
January 15, 2010
Veronica I send my condolences and prayers to you and your family during this time of great loss. I'm deeply sadden and at a loss for words. Donnell and yourself was mentors to me while in Japan. Again my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Alfred (Al) Harris
Philadelphia, PA
Patricia Minor
January 12, 2010
Donnell was a dedicated husband, father, friend, and we (his family)love him dearly. If he was in the room, there was laughter. If you had a problem or question about your car, he had the answer. If you wanted a cheesecake…well…just let me tell you, this man could bake. He was always joking, laughing, or just acting crazy. As we grieve over his passing, I pray that the Lord will comfort Edwina as she goes through each day without her confidant and husband. May God continue to comfort DK as he adjusts to life without his best friend and Dad. What we can do is hold on to the memories each one of us have of him and remember that he loved life and his family. He touched so many lives all over the world as evident by the many words of kindness I am seeing in this guestbook from those who knew and loved him. Let’s keep him in our hearts and please keep his family up in prayer.
The Witcher Family - Charlton Ave.
January 1, 2010
We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.
Lorine Barbour Brown
January 1, 2010
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
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December 31, 2009
May God Bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Joe Brown, Philadelphia, Pa.
Delores Martin
December 30, 2009
Edwina and Family,
May God be your comfort Donnell will always be in our hearts. I know a lot people will miss his Laughter but we can hold on to the memories, thanks for sharing the memories love always to your Family. Delores Johnson Martin
December 30, 2009
Edwina and Family,
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with you.
Dorothy Brown Shadwick--Seattle, Washington and memory of my sister Mary Alice Brown
Roberta Childress McIntosh
December 30, 2009
Edwina and Family,
May God comfort your hearts and minds at this time. Just think of some little funny thing he did or said, and that will keep him alive in your hearts. Surely my thoughts and prayers are with you
Lucy Carter-Terrell
December 29, 2009
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Denise Dent
December 29, 2009
Edwina and D.K. I am so very sorry to hear of your sudden loss.
Clarence & Joyce Crenshaw
December 29, 2009
Our prayers are with you. May God Bless.
December 29, 2009
Veronica, our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family during the difficult time. May God continue to watch over you and your family.
Reggie and Jody Ramsey
Annette Speaks
December 29, 2009
Veronica and DK,
Those we love don't go away,
They walk beside us every day,
Unseen, unheard, but always near,
Still loved, still missed and very dear.
December 28, 2009
Veronica and DK,
I am at a loss for words; Donnell in many ways was like a father to me. I am sure God has a plan for taking Donnell from us this early in his life. My Family and I are deeply saddened for not having another opportunity to talk to , laugh with, and joke about the time we spent in Japan and during are stay in Northern Virginia. Donnell and I shared a lot of fond memories and I was so looking forward to seeing him soon to continue are friendship. On this day of sadness my eyes are unable to dry. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Jimmie R Russell
Linda Lovett
December 28, 2009
Veronica, I am sorry to hear about your loss. I pray that you, your son and the extended family of Donnell Key will find peace and comfort during this time.
marion turner
December 28, 2009
Edwina & D.k., the extended family of Donnell, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss may God be with you all and give you all the strenght doing your time of sorrow.I will always remember the good times we shared together.Love always Epop & Family
Stacie Curry
December 27, 2009
To my family my deepest sympathy to you all may God comfort each of you during your time of loss of your brother and husband, May god give you all the strength as well.. Love you all.
December 27, 2009
Edwina & Family,
You all have our deepest sympathy in the passing of Donnell. We will pray for your comfort and strength in the Lord. John & Kitty Frye Burton
Herb Dickerson
December 27, 2009
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
December 26, 2009
Dear Cousin Edwina,
We are very sorry for the loss of your husband. We pray for God's presence and peace in your life and the lives of all who loved and knew him.
We are praying for you.
Love,
Peggy Adams
Rev. Christopher Adams
Chris Holloman
December 26, 2009
Veronica my thoughts and prayers are with you and DK at this time. I extend my deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Donnell was one of the nices guys I have ever met. I will always value his friendship and words of encouragement. Take care.
Chris (Japan)
Greg & Candy Crenshaw
December 26, 2009
Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
December 24, 2009
Edwina and Family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at
this time. We extend our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Ernestine M. Holland-Murray &
The Class of "69".
December 24, 2009
To Edwina and Family of the late Donnell Key; My heart ,prayers and condolesences are with you all at this time of sorrow. May the Lord continue to strenthen and keep you all. I'm so glad that we had some quality and enjoyable times during our last Key Reunion. We will certainly miss Donnell.
Cousin Joyce Colemon and family, Waynesboro
December 24, 2009
God Bless me with a strong friendship with Donnell from June 2004 until his passing. We worked side by side, and both had a great love of the super days of James Brown. I valued his fellowship and I will miss him long after this homegoing has passed. I know his leaving was God's will but I sure wish I would've had a say in it! Take Care my friend, and know I'll always think of you with joy- W Mike Murphy
Dr. W Michael Murphy
December 24, 2009
God Blessed me with a strong friendship with Donnell from June 2004 until his passing. We worked side by side, and both had a great love of the super days of James Brown. I valued his fellowship and I will miss him long after this homegoing has passed. I know his leaving was God's will but I sure wish I would've had a say in it! Take Care my friend, and know I'll always think of you with joy- W Mike Murphy
Regina Weste
December 24, 2009
To the family of the late, Donnell Key, you have my deepest condolence.
A man overflowing with laughter, delight and adoration for everyone was taken to soon. Donnell, was truly one in a million; and will be sorely missed. His conviction to relish life and seek out new challenges, while encouraging other's around him to focus on positive measures, and dismiss unconstructive elements was a remarkable quality observed by many.
Much of our conversation engaged automobiles, since we both shared a passion for antique and contemporary cars, workplace, family, and last but not least, my Topper. Donnell, forever had a joke about my Topper, a White Eskimo/Spitz. When I would tell him about how I pampered Topper, he would look at me, then ask Sheila McCoy, adjacent to his cube, if she overheard the conversation. Sheila, replied yes, and laughing uncontrollably. Donnell, then responding to me, Regina, you need to be sitting on someone's couch, and fall out laughing. Then comment, "Topper is a Mutt, put him outdoors"! Of course, my response to him was Never! He would laugh, and shake his head.
Donnell conveyed his aspiration to build a car after retirement, and overly excited. He was not only a colleague, but friend for life with a kind heart.
It is difficult to imagine a world without his laughter and smile, but, I realize he is now in a better place.
May you rest in peace my friend!
Sylvia Hawkins Scott
December 24, 2009
To Donnell's Family: Sorry to hear of the passing of my classmate. He was a joy. May God strengthen you and keep his arms around you.
Constance Carter
December 24, 2009
Donnell my friend to know you was to love you. There are no words that are a true reflection of how much you are missed, and how many you have touched in that special way in which only you could. At this time of sorrow, I will find comfort in the many precious memories of you, and the countless times that you brighten my day, and made me laugh. It will be the little things that so many will remember, the quiet moments, the smiles, and the laughter. And although it is hard right now, it will be the memories of these little things that will help to ease away the pain and bring the smiles back again. To Mrs. Veronica Key and family I am deeply saddened by your profound loss. My prayers and blessings are with you during this time of grief. May your memories give you strength.
Fairy White
December 24, 2009
To the Family, my thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of bereavement. Donnell was a great guy, great cook and great comedian. Continue to keep his memories forever and you will make it through hard times. We all at the CIS will truly miss his smiling face and laughter. May GOD continue to Bless and keep you.
Jessica
December 24, 2009
Donnell was a beautiful soul who you could always count on to lift your spirits. He was genuine, honest and open. No one was a stranger for long in Donnell’s company. He made the dreariest of days brighter and made me feel so special every time he gave me one of his heart-felt smiles. I will miss his energy and humor. I am blessed to have known him. He will be sorely missed. May God wrap his all-powerful arms around Donnell’s family and friends as they deal with this tremendous loss.
D.E. Frank and 1st Lady Rachel Reeves
December 24, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Denise Hill
December 23, 2009
My friend you are like family you made not just me but so many laugh know matter what. Donnell is the Doctor of CIS not a day went by without a smile from him. To Donnell family God bless you and keep you my prayers are with you. Donnell has a permanent place in my heart and so many others he shared food, love, and joy everyplace he went. From Denise part of your Homeland Security family.
December 23, 2009
The Department of Homeland Security, Information and Customer Services lunch crew and friends would like to extend our Deepest Sympathy in the loss of your husband and father. We all LOVED Donnell and he was family to us. He will truly be missed, remembered and live on in our hearts. Ours prayers go out to you, Veronica, DK and your family and friends. Take care and GOD bless you all.
Barbara Wood
December 22, 2009
Edwina and Family,
Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…my thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Elizabeth Hearns-Coles
December 22, 2009
Edwina and DK,
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Curley Anderson-Haliburton
December 21, 2009
Edwina, DK, and family of Donnell:
I am very sorry for your loss and may god,and prayers get you through this time in your life and help you to continue to feel love and support from all that knew Donnell. As a former classmate I will always remember him.May god bless you.
Ronnie &Cheryl Sheffey
December 20, 2009
As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.
Fay Mason
December 19, 2009
You and DK are in our thoughts and prayers. May the love of family and friends help you in this time of sorrow. Fay and Lisa
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