Donna Melton Rushing, aged 58, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 12, 2021, in Kindred Hospital Clear Lake in Webster due to complications of COVID-19, double pneumonia, and ARDS. She was born January 26, 1963 in Panola General Hospital in Carthage. She was a very outgoing, loved people, never met a stranger and if she thought she recognized you, she would ask your name. She loved her church, New Hope MBC (where she was a clerk/treasurer, played the piano and taught SS and BTC for many years; where husband Nicky taught.  School and BTC and led singing for many years; and where Andrew continues leading singing and teaching BTC) lost souls, and missions. Her late husband, Nicky, was a 1973 graduate of Center High School and Donna was a 1981 graduate of San Augustine High School. She resided for almost 40 years where Nicky taught Jr. High science and computers and she sold Avon, sold insurance the longest for Vernon Poole Insurance Agency in Liberty, Kmart, and 20 years for Walmart #1186 in electronics. She attended Lee College in Baytown and the University of Houston-Clear Lake where she attained degrees in Education and History, all while working and tending to her son, Andrew. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Louise Melton Harrison originally of Timpson; a sister, Sarah Harrison Smith, also originally from Timpson; maternal grandparents, Damon Doyle Harrison and Era Rhodes Harrison Hancock; paternal grandparents, Luster Melton and Tommie Gilmer Huff Melton; uncles Jack Bush, a resident of Tenaha for about 60 years and am engineer for TXDOT; and Amiel Smith  her husband of 29 years, Nicky Rushing; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dura Mae Wheeler and Albert Rushing; a brother-in-law, Albert Earl Rushing, and a sister-in-law Jo Ann Barbee Rushing.   

She is survived by her son, Andrew Phillip Rushing of Hardin and girlfriend Jessica Dean of Bremerton Washington; her father, Bro. Donald Ray Melton of the South Jericho community of Center; brother, Jonathan Doyle Melton, also of the South Jericho community; an aunt, Loyce Bush of Kingwood; an uncle and aunt, Bro. Hiram and Beth Melton of the Old Home community in Joaquin; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Francene and Don Gardner of South Jericho; sister-in-law, Jeannie Runnels of South Jericho; brother-in-law, Bill Rushing, of South Jericho; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Sherry and Charles Parks of Colorado, and a number of cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, numerous great-great nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.