Wade Crosland Donnell, 95, of Mendenhall, Mississippi passed away Tuesday, August 12, 2025. He was born Sunday, March 30, 1930 in D’Lo, Mississippi.
Visitation was held on Friday, August 15, 2025, from 10 a.m. until the service at 12 noon at Mendenhall First Baptist in Mendenhall, Mississippi. Burial followed in Mendenhall City Cemetery in Mendenhall, Mississippi. Dr. Joe Wiggins officiated. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall handled arrangements, 601-847-4401.
Wade has been a member of First Baptist Church of Mendenhall for many years, serving as a Deacon Board chairman, Sunday School director, and teacher. He was one of the original founders of Simpson Academy, serving as board chairman for two years. Wade and his wife Mary Gayle were world class travelers, traveling to six continents and visiting 50 countries. Wade graduated from Mendenhall High school in 1947 and from Mississippi State University in 1951. He was a Korean War Veteran serving as a crew chief on an Army helicopter. He retired from the accounting department at CenterPoint Energy in 1992. His lovely wife Mary Gayle, passed away August of 2019. She and her mother owned and operated The Palmyra Dress Shoppe in Mendenhall.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Gayle Hammond Donnell; father, Ed Donnell; mother, Nora Grantham Donnell; four brothers; and six sisters.
He leaves behind his two daughters, China Donnell of Jackson, Mississippi and Sheila Donnell Bryson (Tommy) of Jackson, Mississippi; grandson, Hunter Bryson of Chicago, Illinois; sister, Fay Nell Armstrong of Mendenhall, Mississippi; and a host of nieces, and nephews.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.colonialchapelmageemendenhall.com
