Donna Joyce (Romaine) Richardson

Donna Joyce Richardson passed peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, June 6, 2026. At 84 years of a full life, she was residing comfortably at the Delmar Gardens-Independent Living community, in Smyrna, Georgia. Donna was born at Delray General Hospital on March 11, 1942, in Detroit Michigan. Donna grew up, lived, and worked in the Detroit area most of her life. She graduated from Wayne Memorial High School in 1960. Not long after, she married the love of her life Robert "Bob" Baker Richardson on April 22, 1961. It was a marriage that would last for more than 60 years. Having previously served in the U.S. Army, Bob was recalled back into the service later that same year. Donna and Bob were stationed at Fort Smith, Arkansas, until his honorable discharge in 1962. Afterward, Donna managed to balance her life raising two energetic young boys and multiple career paths. Before starting a family, she was as an EKG and lab technician at Annapolis Hospital, in Wayne Michigan. After moving back to Michigan from Arkansas, Donna took employment with Ford Motor Company and moved up through the ranks to become an Executive Assistant. She also dipped her toe into real estate as an agent. Donna went on to earn an associate’s degree, in Business Administration, from Oakland Community College. Subsequently, she started a floral arrangement business in Walled Lake, Michigan. Donna's hobbies included crotchet, needlepoint, golfing, and ham radio operating. She even received a ham radio examiner certificate! She started doing volunteer work early in life as a candy striper at Annapolis Hospital. While her boys were growing up, Donna had taken up responsibilities as a Boy Scout Den Mother for a few years. After retirement, Donna and Bob moved to Hoschton, Georgia, to be near their sons. She continued serving her community working with the Barrow County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Not to mention, she also volunteered at the local library. Donna is survived by her two sons, Robert and Richard, her daughter's in-law, Joann and Vanessa, her brother, John Romaine, and sister Elaine Martin, her grandchildren, Reilly, Lydia, and Travis, 4 great grandchildren, as well as several loved nieces and nephews. Please share memories and condolences with the family at www.nationalcremation.com.