Mrs. Elinor McBride McDonald, age 94, of North Brown Street in Oconee peacefully passed away at her residence, the home where she was born, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Wednesday, June 29th at 11:00 A.M. in the McDonald Home on North Brown Street of Oconee. Reverend Barry Clanton and Reverend Tom Howard will officiate. Mrs. McDonald’s grandsons, grandsons-in-law, and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends following the service at the McDonald Home.
Mrs. McDonald, affectionally known as “Ma-Ma,” was born on April 27, 1928, in Oconee to the late Thomas Youngblood McBride and the late Annie Lou Graybill McBride, the youngest of seven children. She attended her early schooling in Oconee and graduated from the Tennille High School. Elinor was an outstanding basketball player on the Varsity Team from the seventh grade through eleventh grade. Mrs. McDonald met her husband, John Y. McDonald, Sr., in June of 1947 when he was employed by the County and working near her home. The two married the following year, moved to Macon for a short time, and soon returned to her beloved childhood home in Oconee, where they reared five children. She enjoyed her time outdoors raking yards and spending precious time with children and grandchildren. Elinor always extended her home to adored family and friends. Mrs. McDonald was a faithful member of the Antioch Christian Church of Oconee. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Y. McDonald, Sr., and son-in-law, David Brantley.
Elinor is survived by her children, Melanie (Aaron) Youngblood of Oconee, Johnny (Joan) McDonald of Oconee, Jorie Brantley of Oconee, Monti (Jeff) Webb of Wrightsville, and William (Rebecca) McDonald of Oconee; grandchildren, Amanda (Daniel) Collins of Oconee, Mary Elinor (Bryan) Hodges of Oconee, John (Christina) McDonald, III of Tennille, Elijah (Paige) Brantley of Dublin, Mollie (Dillon) Douglas of Chauncey, Julie (Dylan) Pettis of Wrightsville, Ashlyn (Daniel) Dixon of Wrightsville, John Holton (Clara) Webb of Wrightsville, Annie Blye (Judah) Hartman of Macon, Ella Will McDonald of Sandersville, and Emily Joe McDonald of Sandersville; and great-grandchildren Graybill Collins, Tucker Collins, J.T. Hodges, Caroline Hodges, Mac Hodges, Evan Lambros, Eli Lambros, Ava McDonald, Sophie McDonald, Ian Brantley, Linza Pettis, Elinor Pettis, Jaylan Dixon, and Allyson Dixon.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that donations be made to Antioch Christian Church, P.O. Box 40, Oconee Georgia 31067 or to the donor’s favorite charity.
Online condolences may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.