Donald H Dodson

In Loving Memory of Donny “Oak” Dodson

There are some souls who arrive quietly and then, without warning, become the very roots that help hold a family steady. Donny was one of them. In time, we began calling him Oak—a name he earned not by trying, but simply by being who he was. Strong in spirit, steady in love, and unwavering in the way he stood for my daughter and for all of us, he grew into our clan as though he had always belonged. He was caring, goofy, honest to a fault, and full of a warmth that made people feel at ease. He never wanted anyone to be sad on his behalf; he lived with a kind of open-hearted sincerity that asked only for laughter, connection, and truth. He worshipped the ground my daughter walked on, and together they built something rare—one of those once in a lifetime loves that many search for and never find. They met each other at a moment when both needed a hand to hold, and from that meeting they created a life woven with devotion, humor, and fierce loyalty. To us, he was not “in law.” He was Son. To his niece and nephew, he was their beloved Don Don. He was a brother, a friend, a steady presence whose absence will echo for a long time. Donny did not want a traditional funeral. This was something that he and his fiancé had discussed due to experiencing his mother’s sudden passing this is a decision that he held and brought to us on several occasions. He was a man who embraced our family’s practices and traditions wholeheartedly, and we will honor him exactly as he asked. We want everyone to know how deeply grateful we are for the love shown to him—love that came not only from us, but from an entire community who saw his kindness as clearly as we did. For those who knew him, laughed with him, or carry a memory of him that still glows warm in your chest, we invite you to share your stories here. We will be creating a digital album and a dedicated page to gather these moments—pieces of his life that deserve to be held, remembered, and cherished.

We will miss him dearly. But like the oak he was, his presence remains—rooted in us, steady in our hearts, and living on in every story told in his name.

He was preceded in death by his mother: Susan Michelle Peters Hall

Those left to cherish his memory:

Fiancé: Anna Metcalf

Brothers: Joshua Dodson, Dillon Dodson

Step-father: Jay Hall

Mother & Father in law: Heather & Blake Metcalf, aka "Mom and Pops"

Brother-in-law: Nathan, Bubba

Sister-in-law: Sasha Metcalf

Niece and Nephew: Xander & Rue

His "Mimi"

Uncle: Jared Hall

Special friends: McKinley Melson, Huey, and countless others who also loved and cherished him.

Cremation arrangements have been made and Evans Mortuary is serving the family of "Donny" Dodson