Donald McCall

Donald McCall was born on December 9, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Junius and Minnie McCall. Donald was called home to be with The Lord on January 18, 2026.

Donald, the fourth child of nine children, attended Cincinnati Public Schools. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1971 to 1973. He was stationed in Germany for one year prior to receiving an honorable discharge. After Donald’s tour with the army, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour at The New Christian Life Baptist Church, where he sang in the Male Chorus and served on the Usher Board. Donald also had a long working career with Duke Energy, where he worked in the field, meeting people all day. Donald later retired from Duke Energy.

Donald was blessed with a fun-loving spirit. He habitually woke up each morning and headed to his porch, where he threw bread in the yard to feed the birds. Still sitting on the porch, he’d let the dogs out so they could run the yard and keep him company. Donald, who never met a stranger, greeted everyone with his famous “big” smile. And once he met you, he would come up with a nickname …and that is the name he would address you by going forward. I heard Calvin call out Donald’s nickname the last time family was in his presence, with a prayer and saying our goodbyes. “Hey, Slick.”

His main hobby was bowling. Donald, an avid bowler, bowled up to three nights a week at the former Bowl-O-Mat bowling alley. He also enjoyed shooting pool with his brothers. When Donald could no longer bowl after twisting his knee (because it did not allow him to get close to the floor to release his “torpedo” of a ball), he enjoyed the casino and its meals.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving children, Chauna Strayhorn and Andre Dotson; his six siblings, Roy L. McCall, Willie J. McCall, Julius McCall, Garry McCall, Gail McCall-Martin (Enrico), all of Cincinnati, and Calvin (Julia) McCall of Columbia, S.C.; his dearest and closest friend, Sylvia Gilliam; his four grandchildren, Sean Calloway, Shamar Strayhorn, Shamia Strayhorn and Shane Strayhorn. A host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends will dearly miss Donald.