mary alice donald haney
1931-1983
Life Story
Early Life and Family Roots
Mary Alice Donald Haney was a pillar of the community in Newton County, Mississippi, a woman whose life was defined by devotion to family and unwavering faith. She was born on September 14, 1931, in Newton, Mississippi, to Joseph “Joe” Donald and Alberta Parker Donald.
Raised in a large and vibrant household during the 1930s and 1940s, Mary Alice was the middle child among seven siblings. Her upbringing reflected the strength and resilience of rural Black families in Mississippi, where kinship networks and shared responsibility formed the foundation of daily life.
Formative Years in Rural Newton
The 1940 and 1950 census records place the Donald family in rural Newton County, where her father worked as a farmer. Mary Alice attended local schools, completing her elementary education while also contributing to the responsibilities of a busy household.
By 1950, at the age of seventeen, she remained at home on the family property along Lawrence Bethel Road. Surrounded by her parents and siblings—brothers Joe Lee, Max, Cleo, and Paul, and her sister Lucy Mae—Mary Alice’s early life was rooted in both family duty and community connection.
Migration and New Beginnings
In the early 1950s, Mary Alice followed a path taken by many African Americans during the Great Migration, venturing north in search of opportunity. On May 8, 1953, at the age of twenty-one, she married Curtis Lee Treyanum in Erie County, Ohio.
This chapter of her life connected her to the growing network of Newton County families who had settled in Sandusky, Ohio. Like many migrants, her journey reflected both movement and continuity—carrying Southern roots into Northern communities while maintaining strong ties to home.
Marriage, Family, and Faith
Mary Alice later married Louis Haney, and together they built a life centered on family, faith, and perseverance. Their household reflected the blended family structures common in mid-twentieth-century America, where love and responsibility extended across biological and step relationships.
Her spiritual life remained constant. Mary Alice held a long-standing membership at St. John Missionary Baptist Church in Newton County, where she was an active and dedicated “Mission Sister.” In this role, she participated in community service, outreach, and the spiritual life of the church—quietly embodying a tradition of faith-driven leadership among Black churchwomen.
Passing and Homegoing
Mary Alice passed away in early August 1983 at the age of 51. Her funeral service, held on Sunday, August 7, 1983, at St. John M.B. Church, drew together the community she had long served and cherished.
Officiated by Rev. J. Frank Moore and Rev. Purvis Moore, the service honored her as a devoted Mission Sister and faithful servant. It was a homegoing marked not only by grief, but by deep respect for a life well lived in service to others.
Legacy and Family
Mary Alice’s legacy lives on through the family she nurtured and the community she strengthened.
She was preceded in death by her father and was survived by:
- Husband: Louis Haney
- Mother: Alberta Donald of Newton
- Children: Daughters Rhonda Eichelberger, Anita Crowther, and Linda Waltower; sons Linza Waltower and Anthony Waltower (then serving in West Germany)
- Siblings: Sister Lucy M. Blount and brothers Walter and Cleo Donald of Sandusky, Ohio; and brothers Paul and Mack Donald of Newton
She was laid to rest at Old Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Newton County, surrounded by the land and people who shaped her life.
Enduring Legacy
Mary Alice Donald Haney’s life stands as a bridge between two worlds—the rural traditions of Mississippi and the expanding horizons of families shaped by migration. Though she journeyed beyond Newton County, her roots remained firmly planted in the soil of home.
Remembered as a devoted daughter, mother, sister, and woman of faith, she carried “home” within her wherever she went—leaving behind a legacy of strength, service, and enduring love.
Resting Place
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1940, 1950 Federal Censuses
- The Newton Record, Mary Alice Haney Obituary, Wed, Aug 10, 1983 ·Page 25
- Ohio, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1774-1993
- U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
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