Donna Cathey

Asheville Donna Joy Cathey, 65, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was a 1966 graduate of Clyde A. Erwin High School where she was a Star Player on the Girls Basketball Team and attended Mars Hill College. She was employed with Borg-Warner for 32 years and was formerly employed with Andrex Mfg Co for 11 years. Her church memberships included Pole Creek, Sunrise and Friendship Baptist Churches as she followed her father in their ministry. A lifelong gospel singer, Donna started at the age of 2, along with her sister Jonnie, as the Cathey Sisters and later along with her Mom, they sang for 31 years as the Cathey Trio. In 1981, the Singing Patriots was formed of which she sang with for 32 years. Donna was a daughter of the late Rev. J.D. Cathey, Jr. and Mary Florence Mehaffey Cathey. Surviving are her sisters, Jonnie Smith and husband Jack of Leicester and Anita Hunter and husband Jeff of Canton; brother, Michael Cathey and wife Crystal of Candler; uncles, Neil Cathey and wife Patricia of Weaverville, Kenneth Cathey and wife Terry of Asheville with whom she made her home for the past 23 months, J.V. Mehaffey and wife Alma Lee of Greenville, SC and Tommy Mehaffey and wife Anna of Winston-Salem; aunts, Emily Wilson and husband Frank, Patsy Harris and husband Chuck and Blair Dean Cathey all of Candler; five nephews, three nieces and several great nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 2 PM Sunday, November 24, 2013 in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with Terry Cathey, Gary Livingston and Rev. Mike Cathey officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Saturday and immediately following services on Sunday at the funeral home. Private graveside services, officiated by Rev. Keith Watkins, were held at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory. Memorials may be made to: CarePartners, P.O. Box 25338, Asheville, N.C. 28813. A very special thank you to Nan, Melanie, Karen, Kate and Danny for their special, special care given to Donna. A Video Tribute will be available for a limited time. Click Here