Donna Mae Brown

Donna Brown, age 79, of Diamondhead, Mississippi passed away on Thursday September 12, 2024, at Memorial Woodland Village Nursing Center, Diamondhead Mississippi.

She was born in Taylorville, IL on July 17, 1945, the daughter of Ruth (Ogden) Mitchelson and James (Spot) Mitchelson. Donna married Arthur (Art) Brown on April 5, 1969. She resided in Pawnee IL many years before retiring to Diamondhead MS where she lived for over 20 years.

Donna is survived by her husband, Arthur (Art) Brown, her daughters Rhonda (Brown) Shambarger (husband "OJ") of Auburn Hills, MI and Jennifer Brown of Suffolk VA and her sister, Marlene Morris of Springfield, IL. She was proceeded in death by her parents Ruth & James Mitchelson, her step father Fred Morris, her 2 brothers, Bob (Bonnie) Mitchelson, Jim (Bonnie) Mitchelson and 3 sisters, Dorothy Beers, Betty Furguson and Patty (Bill) Taylor.

Donna graduated from Taylorville High School in 1963. She had career of over 40 years in the banking industry and retired as Executive Vice President of United Community Bank, Pawnee. After moving to Mississippi she served as a private consultant providing compliance training for multiple bank locations in the central Illinois area.

When Donna and Art "retired" to Diamondhead, they were very active in the community participating in a variety of local organizations. Donna was an owner of Aloha Gallery & Frame Shop which was named Diamondhead's business of the year in 2009. She took great pride in the business and loved being able to work alongside her husband, Art, who made custom frames for many of their customers. Both were involved in the Krew of Kamehameha and were named Duke and Maid in 2007. Donna was very creative and artistic. She helped design and build sets for various balls and events all throughout the year. She was also an incredibly talented oil painter and painted for most of her life. While living in Diamondhead, she provided painting classes.

Donna was cremated at Marshalls Funeral Home and Cremation in Biloxi, MS. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at a later date.