1/9/2008 6:00:00 PM
Hunter dies in fall from deer stand
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By LUTHER JOHNSON
Staff Reporter
A hunting accident in Kemper County on New Year's Eve claimed the life of a Neshoba County man.
David Donald, 48, was found by a hunting companion about 5:30 p.m., after he did not return to the truck where his friend had been waiting, said Trent Myers, conservation officer with Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
Donald fell 21 feet while descending from a climbing deer stand, he said.
Donald was a self employed flooring specialist. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, horse racing and being with friends.
He was a member of Spring Hill Hunting Club, National Wildlife Turkey Federation and U.S. Trotting Association.
He was a deacon at Ocobla Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday School and worked with the youth. He was also a member of Ocobla Mission Group.
Family friend and pastor John Stephens said Donald always put other people's feelings ahead of his own.
He was always wanting to help somebody, he said.
Ocobla Baptist Church was on the verge of ordaining him after voting earlier to make him a deacon, Stephens said.
"David was already doing the work of a deacon; he just didn't have the title. He was an outstanding man. It's a big loss, not only for his wife and three sons, but for the church and his friends," said Stephens, who described the loss as devastating.
Annette Watkins, who taught a college and career age Sunday School class with Donald at Ocobla, said he liked to be at the center of things, especially if it dealt with the youth.
"You didn't have to worry or wonder what David was thinking, he let you know how he felt about situations," said Watkins, noting that he was involved in getting things going for the class, with lots of plans for the upcoming year.
Services for Donald were held Friday at 2 p.m. from John E. Stephens Chapel. The Reverends Chris Vowell, Mark Pilgrim, Ruskin Clay and Stephens officiated.
Burial was in Ocobla Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Cindy Donald of Philadelphia; three sons, Justin, Derick and Cody Donald, all of Philadelphia; his parents, Jerome and Melba Donald of Philadelphia; two sisters Vickie Kilpatrick and Christy Battle, both of Philadelphia; his grandfather, L.A. Donald of Philadelphia; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were: Robert Baker, Buddy Fanning, Stan Stewart, Sherlon Patterson, Myron Williams, Randy Watkins, Dusty Stephens, Mike Alford, Billy Singleton, Kent Warren, Kyle Stokes, Erik McDaniel, Quinton Sellers, Brian Horriage, Marcus Hunnicutt, James Fulton, Del Logan, Eddie Gray, Roy Dickerson, Patrick Patterson, Shane Patterson, Cameron Lesley, Derek Crenshaw, Drew Watkins, Bert Turcotte, Scottie McDaniel, Terrell Brantley, Micah Stewart and Joey Thrash.
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