Donna Lewis Hamilton

01/29/1951 - 06/03/2026

Donna Lewis Hamilton, 75, a beloved wife, mother, educator, and friend, passed away following a long bout with pneumonia, leaving behind a legacy of profound faith, boundless mercy, and a lifetime of "mothering everybody" lucky enough to cross her path.

A Life of Learning and Dedication

Born in Macon, Georgia, Donna was the daughter of the late Walter Lewis of Deep Step, Georgia, and Patsy Lewis of Macon, Georgia. Donna inherited the best parts of her parents: her father’s friendly nature, ensuring she never met a stranger, and her mother’s strong faith and distinct gift of mercy.

Donna dedicated her life to education. After graduating from Georgia Southern with a degree in Education, she went on to earn her Master’s in Special Education from the University of Georgia. Guided by her deep empathy, she later received a certification to teach the Visually Impaired. Over the course of her impactful career, she worked at AIDB (Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind), where she specialized in teaching braille to visually impaired students. Donna truly loved teaching, especially "her kids," and she was exceptionally good at it. Under her patient guidance, many of her students excelled, mastered vital skills, and earned honors.

A 50-Year Adventure

While Donna’s career was defined by her devotion to others, her personal life was anchored by a beautiful love story. Donna met her future husband, David, at a going-away party for her brother Stan, who happened to be David’s lab instructor at Georgia Tech. That single evening sparked the beginning of a nearly 50-year adventure filled with partnership, laughter, and family.

Early on, Donna was deeply moved by friends who had planned to travel extensively after retirement but sadly never made it there. Heartened by that lesson, she and David made a deliberate point to travel while they could. Together, they embarked on many wonderful cruises to Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska, and New England. Her absolute favorite city was Barcelona, where she and David spent four unforgettable days following a Mediterranean cruise. She was utterly amazed by the vibrant cafes and restaurants along La Rambla, deeply moved by the brilliant light show at the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc, and captivated by the breathtaking architecture of Antoni Gaudí, especially the Sagrada Família cathedral. One of her fondest memories was enjoying a peaceful, wonderful lunch right by a beach of shiny smooth pebbles, watching the sailboats drift by.

They also journeyed across Alabama to explore hidden gems they had never seen before, and cherished family vacations with their children and grandchildren that spanned from Mexico to Maine. Everywhere she went, Donna met strangers and effortlessly turned them into friends.

A Sanctuary for All

Donna loved people deeply and simply could not stand to see anyone in a bad situation. Over the years, she opened her heart and her home to countless individuals, providing a safe haven, a way out of a difficult circumstance, or vital support for a student in need. Following the tragic passing of a student's mother, Donna fostered the blind student for a time. In a remarkable feat of determination and love, she managed to track down the child's father—who had left after a divorce years prior—and successfully reunited them. To this day, they still maintain regular contact.

Her profound capacity for rescue extended to animals as well. Donna routinely took in stray dogs that others had given up on. When a tiny Chihuahua was found abandoned in a dumpster after college students left Auburn for the summer, Donna rescued her from the vet and loved her for months until her son and daughter-in-law adopted the pup to be a companion to their own dog.

She also adopted Sam, an 11-year-old Golden Retriever who had spent his entire life confined to a kennel. When he arrived, he was so weak he couldn't run or even stand on the wooden floors. Yet, after just six weeks of love and being with Donna's other dogs, Sam was happily running the fence line as part of the pack. A passionate fan of the Brittany breed, Donna also volunteered with the Brittany Rescue network, opening up her vehicle to transport rescued dogs across segments of Alabama and Georgia to get them to their forever homes.

Faith, Leadership, and Community

Donna was a deeply active member of Auburn United Methodist Church (AUMC), where she spent years teaching acolytes, helping at summer camps, working with the Christian Women’s Job Corps, and volunteering at the Food Pantry. For over 20 years, one of her greatest joys was attending Sunday school with her dear friends. Her cherished class was initially named Genesis, but it eventually transformed into Generation as the members' own children grew up and started attending alongside them.

Her natural instinct to guide and care for youth also led her to become a dedicated leader for Brownie and Girl Scout troops. She poured her heart into mentoring young girls, and nothing brought her greater joy in later years than running into "her girls" around Auburn and seeing the incredible women they had grown up to become.

More recently, driven by her enduring gift of mercy, Donna became involved in a jail ministry. She spent time sharing her deep faith and offering hope, compassion, and a listening ear to inmates, ensuring they knew they were valued.

She loved people unconditionally. Donna was famous for sharing kind words with complete strangers and frequently dispensed hugs to anyone who looked like they needed one, often saying with a smile, "I mother everybody."

Family Left Behind

Donna’s warmth and joy will be missed beyond measure by her family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Patsy Lewis, and her brother, Stan Lewis.

Her memory will be forever cherished by:

• Her devoted husband, David Hamilton
• Her children: Kelly Hamilton (spouse Gabriel Garza), Russ Hamilton (spouse Lei Hamilton), and Casey Hamilton
• Her brother, Benji Lewis (spouse Valorie Lewis)
• Her beloved grandchildren
• A host of extended family, her cherished Generation Sunday school class, church community members, former Scouts, students, and friends who were blessed to share the joy of being part of her life.
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Visitation will be Wednesday, June 10, 2026 at AUMC Chapel at 2:00PM followed by a Celebration of Life at 3:00PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Care Humane Society.