December 24, 2007
A Bittersweet Christmas Message
At a time of year when most of us will be celebrating joyous family reunions, it is with great sadness that we would like to let our readers know that Donna Kay Wilson, known to many in Latin America as Donna Lamb, passed away this Saturday, December 22 in Chapel Hill, Tennessee, after a prolonged battle with cancer.
Donna Kay Wilson (1956-2007)
Donna and her husband Phil Lamb led the mission team that planted the Mexico City Church of Christ in 1987. For many years they oversaw the International Churches of Christ (ICOC) in Latin America and several of the ICOC-associated churches in Florida and the Southern U.S. She resigned from the ministry when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1998, and had been living with her family in Tennessee for the past few years. Although saddened by her departure, we are comforted by knowing that she is now in a better place and with the Lord.
Her children and extended family will have a funeral ceremony on Wednesday December 26. No details are available at this time.
Donna helped many women become Christians, and trained many of them as women’s ministers. The churches in Latin America will always remember her. To my family, and especially to my wife, she will always have a very special place in our hearts.
Goodbye, Donna Kay! We will see you again someday…
J De Anda
Comments(18)
My deepest condolences to the family specially to her children. I never got a chance to meet her personally, but heard her speak a few times.. I admired her heart for the Hispanic people. Good bye our sister!!! The angels welcome you with open arms.
My heartfelt condolences to Donna’s children and family. I have not seen Donna for many years, but she had a profound influence on my life when she lived in Boston. My husband and I were in the ministry at the time and she discipled me. Dave and I were asked to lead a team to Guatemala. At that time, Donna gave me a beautiful skirt from Guatemala. Our lives took a different turn and we got out of the ministry. I saw Donna later at a seminar and tried to give the skirt back…I felt completely “washed up”. Donna looked at me with love and said she would not accept the skirt, that it was a gift from her heart to mine…exactly what I needed to hear. I remember her as being one of the most loving people I have ever known. May she find peace and comfort in the arms of God forever!
My deepest condolences to the family. I did get the wonderful opportunity to meet Donna. I will never forget the impact that she made in NYC when she decided to use her life to help women from a sexually abusive background. Many lives were changed and many women became christians.
You have finished the race sister. Until we meet again. God bless.
Olga Munroe
Nassau, Bahamas
Our hearts and prayers go out to you Jennifer, Josh, Rebecca and David…your mom is such a special woman who will never be forgotten. Your mom has finally found relief in the arms of her Saviour after all these years.
My prayers are with your family. I never really knew your mom but your family had a huge impact in our lives in South Florida and I am sorry for your loss. Josh you used to email us when you moved to LA I hope you remeber us. Your were just a young teen at the time and we have thought about you alot through out the years. Love ya.
My heart goes out to the family. I am really sad to see you go. “MOM” as I used to called you. Thank you for your love, example, and caring. I am sure God will have a special place for you. Jen, Josh, David, my hearts is one with you. I pray that you may find comfort in God.
Love you,
Carlos La Costa
[...] Enero 3, 2008 en 3:59 pm · Archivado en Noticias A todos los que pertenecemos a la Iglesia de Cristo en México por más de una década nos dirá mucho el nombre de Donna Lamb. Ella y Felipe Lamb llegaron a México y establecieron con la ayuda de Dios y de otros misioneros, la ICOC en México. Fue líder de sector mundial por algunos años y ahora tenemos que anunciar que ha pasado a engrosar las filas de los santos que esperan la llegada del día final, cuando resuciten para vida eterna. La noticia de su fallecimiento nos llega del blog de nuestro querido hermano Jaime de Anda de donde me permito publicar lo siguiente: En un tiempo del año cuando muchos de nosotros celebraremos gozosas reuniones familiares, con gran tristeza que nos gustaría hacer del conocimiento de nuestros lectores que Donna Kay Wilson, conocida por muchos en América Latina como Donna Lamb, falleció este sábado 22 de diciembre en Chapel Hill, Tennessee, después de una prolongada batalla contra el cáncer. Donna Kay Wilson (1956-2007) [...]
Thank you to all of you for your kind words and thoughts. They are all so comforting and appreciated especially during this time. Mom had a huge heart and all of you had a place in it.
love,
jen
I am saddned by Donna’s passing. My heart goes out to her family. She was an amazing woman, a faithful woman. She had a gentle and quite spirit I stive to attain, yet she spoke Gods word with such power and conviction. I was blessed to have been in her presence. Although I have not seen Donna in many years I thought of her often. I learned many spiritual lessons from her.
I am saddened by Donna’s passing, yet I rejoice to know that she finished the race and has left to the place where we all want to go one day. What a special woman of God she was!!!. I will always remember her as a woman full of love, faith with a gentle and quiet spirit, yet with such zeal and passion for God, his people and the lost. My heart goes out to Jennifer, Joshua, Rebecca and David.Many of us are who we are because of the great advice and lessons she gave us. May we follow her example.
I wanted to send my love and prayers to the Lamb family. I am happy that she is with our heavenly family and his happy. I know that she is happy and will be there for us when it is our turn to go home. I had learned so much from her and her family while in Boston. I am now in Bakersfield, CA and those few of us who had the honor of knowing her and her teachings will continue to share those lessons learned with the women we know now and will know in the future. Again my family will pray for the children and grandchildren during this time of sadness and happiness at the same time. Love in Him the Perez Family.
Donna and I were classmates at Forest High School in Chapel Hill. We lost contact with each other up until 3 years ago when I received an email from her. She was a blessing to me as a friend so many years ago but an even dearer friend when we reconnected through our emails. We kept saying that we would meet each other halfway when she felt better but we never were able to have that face to face meeting. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, Donna was there to comfort and encourage me by phone and emails. Thank you God for blessing me with the friendship of Donna. To her children, your mother was deeply loved. She always gave me updates on all of her children whom she greatly loved. You are in my prayers. Donna’s friend, Vicki
I’m sitting in my mom’s room right now missing her. Through my tears I’m reading your words of encouragement. I don’t think there’s any doubt how much my mom was loved. What some of you might not know is how much my mom loved you. Brent & Renee, Vicki, Carlos and many more of you, your names came up when my mom and I would have our talks about friends, family and memories. I appriciate everyone’s thoughts…I just hope you all know that my mom thought of you.
For all who are a little confused about all of this… Her name was and IS Donna Kay Lamb. Thanks to all for your condolences.
First met Donna and Phil when Jennifer was 6 months old and Phil took a position at Waynesboro Church of Christ as associate minister. Became close, close friends. Traveled to Panama to spend time with Phil, Donna and children with our three children. Have always loved Donna and Phil. Visited Donna at her home in San Diego. Joshua and Jennifer — we love you and will always think about you. To all of the children — your mom and dad are great and were such good friends to our family. We miss both of them but to your loss of a great mom — just know that you were loved by a kind and soft spoken, adorable friend of ours. Jennifer please contact me so we can stay in touch.
Hi Tommy and Linda,
I have been thinking about you and tried to find your number, but no luck. This is amamzing that I found you on here of all places. Please contact me. jennifer_pagan@yahoo.com
Evening Joshua,
This is Abdul and Henrietta Lindsay who where in the Palm Beach Sector of the South Florida church when your family was there back during ~1995-1998. We had never stop praying for your mom (both Henrietta and myself) and her health. We both sincerely believe her soul and spirit is safe with the Lord. There has always been a sense of peace, love, and sincerity we felt about her in the few times we saw and Henrietta heard her speak.
Here’s hoping your family well-wishes during your time of healing…Henrietta and I have been living in the metro-Atlanta area since Dec. 2000 and by the Grace of God still striving to live for Him as disciples of His Son.
We would love to hear from you (I still remember that short time we spent there in Delray/Boca Raton area playing basketball with other brothers one weekend and I having the chance to converse with you while you were a budding young man…amazing how things stick with you thru the years…By the way, is there any way you can get Jaime & Mimi De Anda our contact info? It is Alindsay105138@yahoo.com & Henriettalindsay@yahoo.com. They were instrumental (I believe God sent) in helping us during a great time of spiritual need in those Palm Beach days (hard to believe over 11 years ago)…spiritual lessons we still use today and figure we will call upon for a lifetime, God’s willing!
Sincerely,
Your Bro’ and Sis in Christ
The Lindsay’s
Hi… I hope my English is clear enough to underestand my message: I knew about this ‘bittersweet Christmas message’ a year ago, but I didn’t know aobut this blog. Joshua and David: I had the bless and the honor of met your mother when you lived at Mexico City, and I remember both of you and your sisters (I don’t expect you remember me, because you met so much people!).
Something I remember about David is this day, when Donna received us -some women to a disciple-gruop’s class, we were called ‘The Deborah’s'-, and she told all of us: ‘David just finished reading his Bible today!’ (it was a Children’s Bible). Donna was SO proud of you!! I was (and still am) a single mother, and for me her words were so great, I felt her joy when she said that, and I learned to celebrate my son’s success since then too.
Of course, from your mother I learned many things, a lot of ways to show my love to my son, my friends, my family, and the girls who want to study the Bible, but specially I learned how to be happy and in love with Jesus. I do really thank God for let me know Donna Lamb.
P.S. I have a photo with Donna, she looks so beautiful there (always), but I didn’t know how to upload it here. Ple