Donna Slusher Baber

Donna S. Baber of Bedford, VA died on Jan. 27, 2023 at Hanover Health and Rehab in Mechanicsville, VA. She was born Donna June Slusher on Feb. 16, 1933 to Quinn Deerwood Slusher and his wife Elsie Lavinia. Donna graduated from the School of Nursing at City Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC on Sept. 1, 1955. “June Bug”, as my father called her, met and married my father, Edd Baber, Sr. (1968), while she was nursing at the Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, VA. They eventually setup housekeeping on a beautiful property above Goose Creek in Bedford County, VA. and they both worked for Social Services in Roanoke. After almost 30 years of marriage, her beloved Edd died (1997) and Donna became even more determined to live out her days on the side of that hill in Bedford. She had the everlasting support of a neighbor couple, Pat and Carolyn Overstreet, also now deceased. Donna has a surviving nephew in Christiansburg, Dickie Horne. It wasn’t until after our own mother died and we (Edd’s 3 sons - Ed Jr., Tom and Dave) started having children of our own, that we could get comfortable considering Donna our step-mother. Even though she had no children of her own, Donna was perfect in the role of “GrandDonna” for our children. Except for a couple of short stays in the hospital and rehab centers, this sweet lady lived 25 years alone in her home, pedaling around in a wheelchair for ten of those years because she had a fear of falling. Donna loved the companionship of cats and had several faithful furry friends to keep her company. In the last couple of years Donna had daily assistance from AmericarePlus and two “Betty’s” who, in addition to routine assistance, read the Bible, sang hymns and prayed with her. Other faithful friends were Cindy Jones, the housekeeper, and Warren Ray who took care of the yard. The family is gathering at the Jackson Lewis Cemetery in Taylors Valley, VA on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. to inter Donna’s remains beside those of her husband. The family asks, if you want to honor and remember Donna, please attend your local worship services and thank God for His goodness and blessings for Donna while she was here and the example of faith she left behind. Praise God!

Donna Slusher Baber

February 16, 1933 - January 27, 2023