Funeral Services for Dona Hext Dowden were held at 2p.m. on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Hornbeck with The Rev. Wayne Chance, The Rev. John Lewing II, and Kelly Stewart officiating. Burial followed in Oak Forest Cemetery under the direction of Jeane’s Funeral Service. Pallbearers were Judah Meyer, Daniel Parker, Luke Arnold, Mikey Leblanc, Anthony Watkins, and Jake Lewing. A visitation was held at the church Saturday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
Dona was born Aug. 29, 1942, in Leesville, La., to Joe and Dovie Hext and passed away June 28, 2022, at the age of 79. She was one of 12 children and the mother of three girls from her first marriage and a son and daughter from her second marriage. During her first marriage she was a devoted housewife and mother for 11 years. In 1984, she remarried to Ed Dowden and began working for the Vernon Parish School Board. She began in Finance then transferred to Receptionist before working in the Personnel Office and eventually became the Secretary to the Superintendent and to the School Board at the same time. She retired after 30 years of service. Dona was instrumental in bringing National Day of Prayer to Vernon Parish at Pleasant View Baptist Church.
It was during her working life that her family began to expand rapidly. After all the children were grown and married, her true pride and joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Nothing, and I mean nothing, meant more to her than ALL of her babies. Being a true matriarch of a large family, Dona truly set a great example for ALL of her babies to follow as best they could. MawMaw was just that – MawMaw.
Dona was preceded in death by her parents, The Rev. Joe Hext and Dovie Ettie Hext; daughter, Darla Semons Parker; granddaughter, Dana Cheyenne Parker; son-in-law, Donnie Ray Parker; brothers, W.D. Smith and Joe Hext; and sisters, Evon Lee, Dovie Curtis, Dorothy Browning, Aubrey West, Audrey Bourque, Thelma Joe Semons, and Linda Faye Hext.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 39 years, Ed Dowden; son, Sean Dowden; daughters, Talitha Semons Lewing and husband Johnny, Jamye Semons, and Sarah Dowden Lewing; sisters, Deloris Rogers and husband Bill, and Faxon Lea Ross; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.