Donna Jean Ridge

1941 - 2022

Donna Jean Ridge Surrounded by her loving family, Donna Jean Tice Ridge, 81, died on September 4, 2022, from complications associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Donna was born on March 4, 1941, to Richard Marvin Tice and Jean Patterson Wilson Tice in Waterbury, CT, and was married to Richard Allen Ridge on September 1, 1963. In the early years of their marriage they lived in Lexington, KY, Gainesville, FL, Augusta, GA, and Waterbury, CT. They settled in Fredericksburg, VA in 1971 before moving to Maryville, TN in 2016.

Donna and Richard raised two children: Melissa Gail Ridge of Woodbridge, VA and Amy Michele Broady (Roy) of Knoxville, TN. In addition to her husband and children, Donna is survived by five grandchildren: Adria Cherelle Carter (Washington, DC) Langston Allen Carter (Fredericksburg, VA), Sterling Ellison Carter (Woodbridge, VA), Caroline Tice Broady (Cleveland, OH) and Joseph Ridge Broady (Cleveland, OH). She is also survived by her brother Richard Marvin Tice (Carolin) of Bainbridge, NY and Marcia Ann Tice Fredsall (Roger) of Richmond, ME as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Donna graduated from Cheshire High School, Cheshire, CT, in 1959 and earned her nursing diploma in 1962 from The Waterbury Hospital School of Nursing. She served as a Registered Nurse at the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in Lexington, KY, and at the UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL.

In Fredericksburg Donna cherished her membership with The Presbyterian Church by serving as a Sunday School Teacher, working summers at Bible School, participating with church Circles, serving as Elder and President of the Women of the Church. Much of Donna's time was devoted to raising "the Ridge girls" and serving as a kindergarten aide for the Fredericksburg City Schools. She was also a member of the Washington-Lewis Chapter of the DAR.

As an active member of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Donna served as a Deacon and was on the Education Committee; she volunteered at Vacation Bible School and assisted with the church's Community Benefit Sale as well as receptions that followed church memorial services.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection and Celebration of Donna's Life will be held at New Providence Presbyterian Church on at 3:00PM on Saturday, September 24, 2022, followed by a reception in Westminster Hall. Donna's cremains will be laid to rest at New Providence Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Donna requested donations be directed to the New Providence Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 703 W Broadway Avenue, Maryville, TN 37803, or to the Washington, DC, or Fredericksburg, VA, Branch of the NAACP.