Donald Cleland

Hickox-Donald E. Cleland passed away Tuesday evening, March 4, 2014 at Hospice of the Golden Isles in Brunswick Georgia. Born in Waycross, Georgia on April 8, 1940, he was the son of William Alfred Cleland Jr. and Maude Harris Cleland. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Wannis Cleland. Donald graduated from Nahunta High School in 1958 and was a member of the boys basketball team which won the State Championship that same year. He was also the State Pole Vault Champion of 1958 and was voted "Most Athletic" of his Senior Class. He joined the Army soon after graduation and was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. His overseas base was Okinawa, Japan, where he was a member of the basketball team which were the Island Champions. Donald made many lifelong friends during this time. After being discharged in September 1961, he went to work at OREMC in Nahunta, where he served in different capacities until his retirement in 2002. Donald met Wanda Turner in the summer of 1958. They stayed in touch by letters over the three years he was in the Army. Once Donald was home, they seriously dated during her last year of high school, marrying in November 1962. They made their home and raised their children, Paula and Robert, in Nahunta. In 2004, they moved to Hickox, next door to Paula and her family, living there happily for the past 10 years. Donald loved working outdoors, whether it was planting a garden, growing flowers, carpentry or mechanics. He always said "You can do what you set your mind to do". He loved his dogs and enjoyed having them there to "Help him" with whatever project he was working on. Donald's church membership was with Nahunta First Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Wanda Turner Cleland, daughter Paula Cleland Ham (Ronald) of Hickox, son Robert Cleland (Melissa) of Raybon. He has three grandchildren, Elizabeth Ham, Joseph Ham and Blake Cleland. He has two surviving brothers, Thomas Earl Cleland (Sylvia) of Jacksonville Florida and Johnnie Cleland of Nahunta, and also many nieces, nephews and cousins. Visitation will be held at Hickox Baptist Church on Thursday March 6, from 6-9 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held at Hickox Baptist Church on Friday March 7 at 11 a.m. with Bro. Mike Hendrix and Bro. Ion Johns officiating. Burial will follow at New Hope Cemetery in Hickox, Georgia. Pallbearers will be Larry Griffin, Mark White, Ernie Thomas, Isaac Roundtree, Gwendol Lee and Ronnie Crews. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the 82nd Airborne Division and their spouses. Arrangements are with Frye Funeral Home, Nahunta. Sympathy may be expressed by signing our online registry at fryefh.com.