Donna Brantley

Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Cousin and Friend

Donna (Dlee) Brantley was born in Boston MA on September 4, 1951, to the late Furman and Katherine Darby.

Donna was educated in the Boston Public School system and was employed by the Gillette Corp. while in Boston. 

She married the late James L. Brantley II and was blessed with 3 amazing children.  

Donna relocated to Chattanooga, TN in 1981 but returned home to Boston frequently to visit loved ones. She was employed in various capacities in Chattanooga including: K-Mart, Orange Grove and the Chattanooga Cares HIV & AIDS Resource and Prevention Center from which she retired. 

Donna loved cooking, baking, sewing, decorating her home and gardening. But, oh, her passion was shopping at thrift stores, flea markets and GOODWILL!!! 

Her caring, loving and unselfish heart enabled her to assist anyone in need. There was no one that Donna would not help. She would travel state to state taking care of family members or anyone who was sick and shut-in. She was a very giving person and never met a stranger.

She leaves to celebrate her life: Her children- James (Bunny) L. Brantley III, Angeline (Perkie) P. Brantley, and Katherine (Kathy) J. Shanahan, John Shanahan (son in-law) all of Chattanooga TN., Shannon Smith Boston MA. & Alphonzo Smith III Chattanooga, TN. Her significant other, Alphonzo (Buster) Smith II of Chattanooga, TN. Grandchildren- Jamall Brantley, Alex Burney, Ricardo Jones Jr., Stephanie Jones; Great-grandchildren- Kaley Pack-Smith, Jamall (MJ) and Dylann (lil-lil) Brantley; Brothers-Charles Horton, Furman Darby Jr., and James Darby (Shelia) of Boston MA.; Brother in-law Theodore Brantley of Boston MA.; Sisters-in-law- Pamela Brantley of Miami, FL., Wydette Riggins Chattanooga TN., and Pristine Smith of Boston, MA and a large number of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends; including two very special friends who she trusted in her final days, Dr. Lynn Swearingen and Cynthia Wood. Donna was preceded in death by her sister, Blanche Horton-Brookins Brother-in-laws, Anthony L. Brookins Sr. & Stanley Brantley.

A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 6: 30 PM Monday, September 25, in the funeral home chapel with Greg Funderberg, Natajah Hardaway, Jonathan Brantley Ferguson, and Renee' Riggins speaking.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.

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