It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Betty Attaway McDonald, age 94. She passed away peacefully with family members by her bedside on January 14, 2026, in River Vale, New Jersey at her daughter's family residence.
She was born on April 24, 1931, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, a daughter of Lois Marie Attaway and Lonnie Reeves Attaway. She also spent time in the care of her grandparents, Otis F. Harris and Alma M. Harris in Eustis, Florida.
Betty spent her early adult life working in clerical roles in the insurance industry and at the Georgia State Capitol. She later had a lengthy career working at Norfolk Southern Railway. Her greatest legacy in life was being a true matriarch of her large family. She continually planned Sunday dinners and 30-plus years of family vacations that included kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. She held the family together with her loving leadership, guidance, and patience. Through the years, she loved sewing clothes for grandchildren, gardening, awesome southern cooking, and traveling. She was a dedicated bridge player for a large part of her life and earned the prestigious ranking of Life Master.
In addition to her parents and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Matthew McDonald; two sons, Stephen Matthew McDonald and Douglas Edward McDonald; and one brother, Donnie Attaway. She is also preceded in death by her half-brother, David Attaway, and half-sister Marcy Pennington (Herb), and daughter-in-law, Alise Clabough.
She is survived by her four loving children and daughter-in-law. Mark McDonald; Scott McDonald (Lynn); Donna Porter (Kenny; Phillip McDonald (Anna); Anna Ridley McDonald. She is also survived by her half-brothers, Alan Attaway (Kathy) and Larry Attaway (David).
Her grandchildren are Laura, Matthew, Scotty, Mary Kate, Emily, Kaitlyn, Kristin, Mac, Brooke, Nathan, Sam, Cole, Rachel, and Abigail. Her great-grandchildren are Hensley, Luke, Ferdie, Audrey, Riley, Jack, Aurelia, and Ralph.
Betty (Mom/Grandma) will be greatly missed by her family. Online condolences can be made at Legacy.com.
She was born on April 24, 1931, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, a daughter of Lois Marie Attaway and Lonnie Reeves Attaway. She also spent time in the care of her grandparents, Otis F. Harris and Alma M. Harris in Eustis, Florida.
Betty spent her early adult life working in clerical roles in the insurance industry and at the Georgia State Capitol. She later had a lengthy career working at Norfolk Southern Railway. Her greatest legacy in life was being a true matriarch of her large family. She continually planned Sunday dinners and 30-plus years of family vacations that included kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. She held the family together with her loving leadership, guidance, and patience. Through the years, she loved sewing clothes for grandchildren, gardening, awesome southern cooking, and traveling. She was a dedicated bridge player for a large part of her life and earned the prestigious ranking of Life Master.
In addition to her parents and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Matthew McDonald; two sons, Stephen Matthew McDonald and Douglas Edward McDonald; and one brother, Donnie Attaway. She is also preceded in death by her half-brother, David Attaway, and half-sister Marcy Pennington (Herb), and daughter-in-law, Alise Clabough.
She is survived by her four loving children and daughter-in-law. Mark McDonald; Scott McDonald (Lynn); Donna Porter (Kenny; Phillip McDonald (Anna); Anna Ridley McDonald. She is also survived by her half-brothers, Alan Attaway (Kathy) and Larry Attaway (David).
Her grandchildren are Laura, Matthew, Scotty, Mary Kate, Emily, Kaitlyn, Kristin, Mac, Brooke, Nathan, Sam, Cole, Rachel, and Abigail. Her great-grandchildren are Hensley, Luke, Ferdie, Audrey, Riley, Jack, Aurelia, and Ralph.
Betty (Mom/Grandma) will be greatly missed by her family. Online condolences can be made at Legacy.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Betty Attaway McDonald, please visit our flower store.
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