Donna Jean Wilbanks Pleasant, 71
September 11, 1953 – May 4, 2025
“It’s important that when I stand before the Lord, he says, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ I want to finish strong.”
Without a shadow of a doubt, we find comfort knowing our beautiful wife, loving mother, caring Nannie, dear sister, dear sister in-law, loving aunt and true friend, Mrs. Donna Jean Wilbanks Pleasant, age 71, heard those words we all long to hear one day, as she entered into her Heavenly Home on Sunday morning May 4, 2025, at Magnolia Hospital in Corinth, Mississippi, with her family faithfully by her side.
Per her request, she will be cremated. A celebration of life for Mrs. Donna will be in Mississippi on May 17, 2025, 12pm-3pm (location to be announced) and in Illinois on June 14, 2025, 12pm-4pm (location to be announced). The family asks that you continue to lift them up in prayer, and remember Mrs. Donna for her unconditional love, and caring nature that touched many lives while she was here on earth.
Born September 11, 1953, in Dayton, Ohio, Mrs. Donna was the daughter of the late Quitman Leroy “Whitey” and Elma Mae Wilson Wilbanks. She received her education from the Libertyville High School in Illinois, and was employed as a receptionist with MacLean -Fogg Factory during the late 70’s. While working with MacLean – Fogg, that is where Mrs. Donna met her husband, Mr. Donald Pleasant, as he worked on the docs. He described it to be “love at first sight”, as his trips to the office became more and more frequent, always having a cup of coffee waiting on the desk for his sweetheart. The two married on April 14, 1984, where they enjoyed life together, building a family and raising their wonderful children. In the summer of 1999, the family packed their bags and moved to Mississippi, where Mrs. Donna and Mr. Donald purchased their forever home, planting their roots in Tippah County. While caring for her family, she was a hard-working woman, working with Bench Craft, Cleaning houses, and Walmart.
A saved Christian, Mrs. Donna’s life served as a testament to the philosophy, “Why sit still, when there is so much life to be lived.” She was a woman on the move, for when she splurged on herself, she could be found on a cruise ship with her husband, sitting at a slot machine with a margarita in hand, or out buying clothes to fill one of her three closets, usually never even taking the tags off. She found much joy intending to her plants and flowers, crocheting, playing games on her phone, running around following, supporting her kids and grandkids at any events they had, and especially aggravating Donald. The phrase “fighting like an old married couple” fits them well, as she knew what buttons of his to push, and he knew what words to say for her to cut and roll them eyes. Nevertheless, she was his “Mama”, and he was her “Don”, and the love they had for one another was like no other. Mrs. Donna’s family meant more to her than anything else in this world and was something she would mention often. She wore the title “Nannie” proudly to her grandchildren and great grandchildren, as her heart was a beautiful garden, showering love over each and every one of them. Time spent with them was her greatest treasure and she was their biggest fan, a shoulder to cry on, and the glue that held them together through it all.
Mrs. Donna always had a way of lighting up a room and lifting spirits with just a bright smile or words of encouragement. Her kindness, humor, and dedication made the world feel a little brighter. Today the world is a little dimmer without her in it, but it’s with great joy knowing where she is at. We look forward to the reunion in Heaven when we get to see our beautiful Donna once again, but until then we plant our feet firmly in his promises and know that God’s grace will be sufficient until that time comes.
In addition to her husband of forty-one years, memories will continue to be cherished by one son, Larry White, four daughters, Lisa Mae White, Terry Garcia, Michaela Blankenship (Jim Culver), and Wendy Lopez (Byron), one sister, Tena Vasquez (Bob), two brothers, Wayne Wilbanks (Janice), and Quitman “Custer” Wilbanks Jr., sister in-laws Cindy Baker and Denise Salazar thirteen grandchildren, Timothy Blankenship (Tricia), Gino Estrada (Celia), Larry White Jr., Genevieve Garcia (Nathaniel), Breana White, Gabriel Garcia, Olivia Ekvall, Deziray Lopez, Viviana Garcia, Byron Lopez Jr., Lorenzo Lopez, Ezmeralda Lopez, and Steven Culver, ten great grandchildren with one on the way, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
In addition to being welcomed into Heaven by her parents, in-laws and nephews. Mrs. Donna is now getting to spoil and rock her grandchild and great grandchild she never got to meet.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Ripley Funeral Home.
Ripley Funeral Home invites you to share memories with Mrs. Donna’s family.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
