Donna Jane Hardeman Holladay

Donna Jane Hardeman Holladay, 83, accomplished educator and counselor, devoted wife, mother and grandmother, died peacefully on August 18, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina.

Known to those closest to her as DJ, Donna was born on July 26, 1943, in Dyersburg, Tennessee, to Thomas Lon and Flossie Mae McClure Hardeman. The youngest of their four children, she was preceded in death by her siblings Ellenor Joy Hardeman Howell, June McClure Hardeman Hemby, and Dorsey Max Hardeman.

Donna is survived by her husband of sixty-one years, Dr. Carl Roark Holladay, their three sons, John Krister (Amy), Ben Hardeman (Christina), and Andrew Patrick (Raegan) and six grandchildren, whom she loved dearly, Sarah Elizabeth, James Patrick, Katherine (Kate) Margaret, Matthew Lapp, Anderson (Andi) Jane, and Charlotte Rhyn.

As a young girl, Donna lived in Henderson, Tennessee, where her mother was a dormitory supervisor at Freed-Hardeman College. After graduating from Chester County High School, Donna attended Freed-Hardeman College, where she met and married Carl and received an Associate of Arts degree (Education and French). She later earned two degrees from Abilene Christian College: B.S., Elementary Education, Psychology, and French; and an M.Ed., Counseling and Guidance Services.

Over the course of her long and distinguished career, Donna taught and shaped the lives of countless children in many places. Her devotion to early childhood development and educating children spanned all ages from daycare and nursery school to junior and senior high school ranging from Abilene, Texas, and Huntingdon, Tennessee, to Cambridge, England, New Haven, Connecticut and Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1980, Donna joined the faculty of Greater Atlanta Christian Schools (GACS) in Atlanta when Carl accepted a position at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. Donna served at GACS until 2013 beginning as a first-grade teacher, and successively as a school counselor in elementary, junior high and high school and finally as Director of Counseling for the School for the entire school K-12, overseeing counseling services for 1,850 students and supervising the work of six counselors.

Donna was never content to limit her life to the demands of family and church; she actively participated and exercised leadership in numerous professional teaching and counseling organizations. She was active in university women’s organizations, including Yale Women (1975–1980), serving as secretary for Yale Divinity Faculty Women’s Group, and as sponsor for Women Affiliated with Yale (wives of graduate students). At Emory, she was an active member of Emory University Woman’s Club for more than two decades, serving as president in 1997–1998. She was also a member of the Candler School of Theology Women for twenty years, serving as co-chair from 1998 until 2000.

A poised and effective public speaker, Donna frequently addressed parents’ groups and other educational audiences, and spoke in chapel, connecting with parents through memorable phrasing about the issues and challenges they faced.

Her skill as teacher, counselor, and speaker served her well in communicating with parents and children in one-on-one conversation. Her knack for identifying deeper issues and offering pertinent advice blessed everyone involved. Colleagues described her calm and quiet leadership style as blending assertiveness with kindness, and diligence with patience.

Donna participated for twenty years as a member and leader of the Student Assistance Professionals Association (SAPA) of Georgia, serving as secretary, vice president and president. Its motto— “For the Love of Kids”—in many ways encapsulates her career as a teacher and counselor. Kids always came first; they mattered to her and she took them seriously at whatever age or stage of development she encountered them. This was especially true for her own kids and grandkids.

Donna was an active member of the Georgia School Counselors Association; the Atlanta Area Association of Independent School Counselors, which she served as president for two years (2002–2004); Delta Kappa Gamma, Beta Chapter, International Education Association (1993–2006), and the Health Issues Board for Atlanta and East-Metro Regional Educational Service (RESA, 1990–1995).

She brought what she learned from her involvement in those organizations back to GACS in the form of innovative programs she created and often directed, including the Student Assistance Care Team, the Conflict Resolution/Peer Mediation Program, the Character Education Program, and the Natural Helpers Program.

Donna also developed a strong anti-bullying program and led support groups in the areas of study skills, friendship difficulties, loss of a parent by death or divorce, academic probation and adjustment to a new school. She educated herself about drug abuse and proactively counseled students and faculty about prevention and intervention.

As an independent facilitator in the Love and Logic Parenting Program based in Denver, Colorado, she counseled scores of parents in a variety of settings, introducing them to well-established principles for dealing effectively with difficult behavioral issues.

All of this she did “for the love of kids,” making time for them, listening to them and their parents, calming their fears, and offering sage advice. Scores of notes, cards, and letters she received over the years included a common theme: “You were there when I needed you; you took time to listen; you made a difference in my life.”

The threads of her “life well lived” weave a tapestry of deep and abiding love for her own family, church in its many variations and locations, faith as both a commitment and way of life, growth and development as a professional woman, teaching and counseling kids and their parents, always living and working “for the love of kids.”

Visitation will be 5pm-7pm on Friday evening September 4, 2026, at Hall-Wynne Funeral Service (1113 West Main Street, Durham, North Carolina) followed by a memorial service honoring Donna’s life on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 1pm at the Cole Mill Road Church of Christ located at 1617 Cole Mill Road in Durham, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Donna’s life are encouraged to make a memorial gift to The Christian Scholarship Foundation at Christianscholars.org.