Donna Seay Magee

Donna Janice Seay Magee, 66, of Batesville, Mississippi, passed away on January 26, 2016, at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The widow of Danny Carroll Magee, she was born in 1949, in Batesville Mississippi, to the late James Edward Seay, Jr. and Lucie Page Seay. Well known for her ready smile and sense of humor, along with her skills as a writer and hostess of numerous dinner parties, showers, and receptions, she was a much-loved teacher at Drew, MS, West Panola Academy, and at South Panola High School. With her out-going, sparkling personality, she also emjoyed a successful career as an agent with Horace Mann Educators' Insurance Company, winning awards and a Caribbean cruise in her first year of sales. A graduate of South Panola High School, she attended Millsaps College and the University of Mississippi, graduating with a BA in Education. She taught English and sponsored the Honor Society prior to her retirement from South Panola in 1999 when she became ill and was the recipient of a liver transplant. She was a supporter of the Mid-South Transplant Foundation, often counseling potential transplant recipients. She maintained close contact with her donor's relatives whom she embraced as family. Donna enjoyed entertaining, traveling, watching cooking shows, SPHS Tiger football, Ole Miss football, and reading, especially her brother's poetry books and the novels of her sister-in-law, Lee Smith. She was a member of Batesville First United Methodist Church. Donna was predeceased by her husband, parents, and one nephew, Joshua F. Seay of Chapel Hill, NC. She leaves one daughter, Drew Major Magee Miller, and her husband Bill Miller of Batesville and Texas, one brother, James E. Seay, III, of Chapel Hill, NC, one sister, Jacquelyn Seay Sergi, and her husband, Brian P. Sergi, Sr., of Batesville. She leaves beloved nephews Jason Pardoe (Jennifer) of Oxford, Brian Pip Sergi, Jr. (Ali) of Batesville, Page Seay of Nashville, Jeff Magee (Kelly) of Batesville, Chip Magee of Texas, Ricky Magee of Natchez, Jarrett Magee of Collierville, Robbie Magee and Owen and Johnny Selby. She also leaves her beloved nieces, Kimberly P. Bickerstaff (Chuck) of Batesville, Pamela Magee, Molly Magee, and Melanie Magee. She leaves behind her special friend and Drew's god-mother, Joanne Major Autrey. Also beloved of her were her great nephews and great nieces, Austin Atkinson, C.J. Bickerstaff, Tripp, Blake, and Aldyn Sergi; Lucy and Spencer Seay; Will and Michael Magee; Ella Magee, and her many friends who will mourn her absence. She is also survived by her brothers-in-law, Billy Magee (Pat) of Uvalde, TX, and Houston Magee of Memphis. Donna's family wishes to especially acknowledge her dedicated physician, Dr. Jacqueline Fleckenstein, now of St. Louis, MO. Without her skill and knowledge during Donna's transplant, her recovery would not have been possible. The fifteen years Donna's donor family, Dr. Fleckenstein, and the University of Tennessee Transplant Clinic gave her were a blessing to us. Visitation will be held at Wells Funeral Home in Batesville, MS Wednesday evening January 27, 2016 from 4:00 to 7:00. Funeral Services for Donna will be held at Batesville First United Methodist Church at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 28, 2016. In lieu of flowers, the family request that any memorials be made to Mid-South Transplant Foundation, 8001 Centerview Pkwy. #302, Cordova, TN 38018, Batesville First United Methodist Church, 119 Panola Ave. Batesville MS 38606, or St. Jude Children's research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105