On August 16, 1942, a precious baby girl [a joy to John and Julia Bruner], was born to Elijah and Lula Mae [Lyday] Watkins in Muskogee, Oklahoma, who was their oldest child.  She was named Donna June.

Donna June Watkins grew up in Muskogee, Oklahoma, attending Wheatley Elementary, Sadler Junior High and the Historic Manual Training High School, where she graduated with the legendary Class of 1960.

In November of 1964, Donna married her childhood sweetheart, William R. Strand.  From this union, two sons were born; Don Prentiss and William Raymond [Billy] Jr.  This marriage was dissolved in 1971. She met Benjamin Lawrence,  III,  in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and from this union, Denise Nicole was born.

On April 26, 1992, Donna June and Booker T. Hamilton, Jr., a former classmate and her soulmate were married.  They traveled and enjoyed being together until his death on March 25, 2003.  Donna was active in many things, mostly at her beloved Deans Chapel.  She served the Lord faithfully as a Deaconess, WMU Treasurer, Kindergarten Sunday school teacher, Vice President and President of the Baptist Women's Circle, a member of the Choir and did whatever was asked of her.

She was a past member of Adah Chapter #25, serving as Associate and Worthy Matron, treasurer and second LT in the Daughters of Isis and recording secretary of the Golden Circle.

Donna was employed at the Grand Theater as concessions Manager when she was 15 ½ from 1957 until the movie theaters were integrated.  She also worked at the tag agencyat that time, during the tag season, Neighborhood Youth Corps at Connors College as Assistant Secretary, First National Bank in Muskogee, three different times as file clerk, proof department supervisor and keypunch operator, an inside teller, Leake Industries, Muskogee office and VA Medical Center as an accounting technician.  She retired from the V.A. after 21 years of service.  She was also in in the Foster Grandparent program at Pershing School.  Donna really enjoyed working with the Children.

Mrs. Donna J. Hamilton, in her 82nd Year, "stretched her hand to Thee" on Thursday morning, February 20, 2025 from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She left this life to journey to the other side.

Those waiting to meet her;  her loving husband, Booker T. Hamilton, her son, Don Prentiss; her parents, her step-father, Joe K. Roberts, her sisters, Marcia McClarty and Sherri Collins; her sisters-in-law, Bertha Hamilton, Redbird, Oklahoma, Olean Hamilton of Muskogee; special brothers-in-law, Elroy Strand, Robert [Tinky] Strand, Arthur McNac and other relatives gone before her.

Those left behind to cherish her memories;  a son, William R. Strand, Jr., of Muskogee and a daughter, Denise Nicole Lawrence, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her step-children, Nicole Muex, Benjamin Lawrence IV and Booker Hamilton III; her brothers, Larry Watkins of Washington D.C., and Michael Smith of Oklahoma City;  her sisters, Randy McNac, Muskogee and Pamela Mitchell, Kansas City, Kansas;  her sister-in-law, Vivian Lovelace, Emporia, Virginia, Bernice Johnson, Oklahoma City;  her brother-in-laws, Donald McClarty of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Alvin Hamilton, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;  her grandchildren, Keondre' Lawrence, Broken Arrow and Jaylen Teague, Tulsa; step-grandchildren, Kelby Lawrence, Kaliah Angeloff, Monique Marquessa, Jordan, Deandre and Olivia Hamilton;  her nephews and nieces that she loved as her own; Kevin Williams, Marcus McClarty, Michael Smith Jr., Catrey Smith, Anthony McNac, Arther (Buddy) McNac Jr., Prentiss McNac, Sheree Griffin, Janell Brooks, Courtney Brooks, Jalisa White, Simone White, Jamel White and Jamal White;  and a caravan of other relatives, friends, and the Deans Chapel Church family.

The Hour of remembrance for Mrs. Hamilton will commence on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2:00 PM in the most holy sanctuary of Deans Chapel Baptist Church.  The Pastor, Reverend Michael Ragsdale will Officiate.

The Christian committal will follow in the Booker T. Washington cemetery.

You may visit her on Friday between the hours of 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM at the funeral home.

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