1919
James
2013
James Walter Donaldson
February 8, 1919 — June 18, 2013
Mr. James Walter Donaldson, age 94, passed away Tuesday evening, June 18, 2013 at his home in Middleton.
Mr. Donaldson was born February 8, 1919 in Hardeman County to the late John Thomas and Ida Pearl Howell Donaldson and was of Irish, Dutch and Indian descent.
Growing up, life was very different for Mr. Donaldson’s family than it is for most families today. They went to school for 6 months and farmed the rest of the time, picking cotton for 2 months. During school months, they walked to and from the schoolhouse, which was in the woods, and used only a writing tablet and a pencil; there were no school books.
In the summertime, since they had no air conditioner, they slept on the wood floor to keep cool and usually went barefoot. They had no electricity so they used a kerosene lamp for light. They drew their water from a well using a bucket, had a wash pan to wash their hands and feet in, made their own soap and brushed their teeth with black gum twigs. Around 1929, they would watch the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights at the neighbors' house.
They raised the food they ate and baked fresh bread every day; they never had oranges, except at Christmas time, and they made chocolate, banana and coconut cakes from scratch. When going to church at the New Hope Church of Christ, Mr. Donaldson wore a white shirt, his best overalls and polished shoes while the women wore hats and long dresses.
On December 17, 1938, Mr. Donaldson was united in marriage to Nannie Bea Callahan, who survives. He served in the US Navy in WWII and worked as a barber in Memphis. He also worked at the Bolivar Tannery for 15 years. He was a member of the Middleton Church of Christ and enjoyed gardening and riding the tractor.
Survivors are his wife of 74 years, two daughters, Dottie Hogan and Nancy Donaldson, and two sons, James Ronald Donaldson (Andrea) and Walter Lynn Donaldson, all of Middleton; a sister, Evelyn Avent of Memphis; five grandchildren, Jacinda Allen, Tommy Hogan, Daryce Donaldson-Smith, Kyle Donaldson & Kennedi Donaldson; and four great-grandchildren, Hollie Allen, Konner Allen, Mikenna Smith & Taylor Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Thomas Calvin Donaldson, twin brothers, Herman & Therman, and a sister, Nevil Ehrett.
Mr. Donaldson was born February 8, 1919 in Hardeman County to the late John Thomas and Ida Pearl Howell Donaldson and was of Irish, Dutch and Indian descent.
Growing up, life was very different for Mr. Donaldson’s family than it is for most families today. They went to school for 6 months and farmed the rest of the time, picking cotton for 2 months. During school months, they walked to and from the schoolhouse, which was in the woods, and used only a writing tablet and a pencil; there were no school books.
In the summertime, since they had no air conditioner, they slept on the wood floor to keep cool and usually went barefoot. They had no electricity so they used a kerosene lamp for light. They drew their water from a well using a bucket, had a wash pan to wash their hands and feet in, made their own soap and brushed their teeth with black gum twigs. Around 1929, they would watch the Grand Ole Opry on Saturday nights at the neighbors' house.
They raised the food they ate and baked fresh bread every day; they never had oranges, except at Christmas time, and they made chocolate, banana and coconut cakes from scratch. When going to church at the New Hope Church of Christ, Mr. Donaldson wore a white shirt, his best overalls and polished shoes while the women wore hats and long dresses.
On December 17, 1938, Mr. Donaldson was united in marriage to Nannie Bea Callahan, who survives. He served in the US Navy in WWII and worked as a barber in Memphis. He also worked at the Bolivar Tannery for 15 years. He was a member of the Middleton Church of Christ and enjoyed gardening and riding the tractor.
Survivors are his wife of 74 years, two daughters, Dottie Hogan and Nancy Donaldson, and two sons, James Ronald Donaldson (Andrea) and Walter Lynn Donaldson, all of Middleton; a sister, Evelyn Avent of Memphis; five grandchildren, Jacinda Allen, Tommy Hogan, Daryce Donaldson-Smith, Kyle Donaldson & Kennedi Donaldson; and four great-grandchildren, Hollie Allen, Konner Allen, Mikenna Smith & Taylor Smith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Thomas Calvin Donaldson, twin brothers, Herman & Therman, and a sister, Nevil Ehrett.
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