Rev. Grapple Lee Donnell

Rev. Grapple Lee Donnell was born on December 6, 1943, to the late Didymus Donnell and Martha Collins Donnell in Lexington, Tennessee. He gained his wings on August 23, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He received his elementary education at Dry Community School and graduated from Montgomery High School in 1961. He then went to do two years at A & I State University before enlisting into the Army from 1965 until 1967.

He accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Cool Springs Baptist Church and remained a faithful member until his death. He accepted his calling into the ministry and preached his first sermon on August 18, 1968. Rev. Donnell pastored at Mt. Orange Baptist Church in Trenton, Tennessee from 1974 until 1989; Chaplain at Mission Convalescent Nursing Home in Jackson, Tennessee from 1992 until 2019; and Cool Springs Baptist Church in Lexington, Tennessee from 2019 until 2024.

He was married to Phyllis H. Donnell on June 7, 1969, and to this union one son, Abram O’NealDonnell, was born. He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, E.B. Collins, Jimmie Dee Donnell, Thomas Donnell, Floyd Donnell and Tyree Donnell; and two sisters, Clara Carver and Radar Jeanette Landers.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his friend, wife, and devoted caregiver of fifty-five years, Phyllis Donnell of Lexington, Tennessee; two sons, Samuel Donnell of Jackson, Tennessee and Abram O’Neal Donnell of Lexington, Tennessee; two grandchildren; Heather and Damien of Florida; one great-grandchild, Grace of Lexington, Tennessee; one brother, Elder Arthur Donnell of California; mother-in-law, Mary F. Robinson of Jackson, Tennessee; four sisters-in-law,  Frances Tomlinson of Evansville, Indiana, Ruby (Jerry) Martin of Henderson, Kentucky, Julia Neal of Decatur, Illinois and Carolyn Donnell of Lexington, Tennessee; three brothers-in-law, Charles Neal of Jackson, Tennessee, Willie Tomlinson of Evansville, Indiana and Paul Pearson of St. Louis, Missouri; a special cousin, Lillie Lusby of Jackson, Tennessee and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.