Dona Mae Thompson James

Celebrating the Life of Dona Mae Thompson James

A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of Dona Mae Thompson James will be held at noon on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, LA, with Reverend Kelby Tingle officiating and Father Taylor Reynolds, Pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the church, with a rosary to begin at 11:30 before the Mass. Interment will follow at Legion Memorial Cemetery in Newellton under the direction of Rose-Neath Funeral Home of Bossier City, LA.

Dona Mae Thompson James, a devoted wife, loving mother, proud grandmother, treasured teacher, and loving friend, was born on September 2, 1929, in Waterproof, LA. She passed away peacefully on April 10, 2025, in Bossier City, surrounded by the love of her family.

Dona grew up in the close-knit town of Waterproof, where she was a proud graduate of Waterproof High School. She was a natural athlete who eagerly joined any sport offered—whether during the school year or in summer leagues—especially basketball and softball.

She carried her love for learning to Northwestern State University (then Normal College) in Natchitoches, LA, where she earned her degree in Mathematics Education in 1950. While there, she was an active member of the Tri Sigma sorority and the Newman Club, and was involved in many other campus activities, making lifelong friendships and memories. After college, she returned home to begin what would become a long, impactful career as a high school math teacher in Tensas Parish.

After her college graduation, she attended summer 4-H camp as a counselor and was introduced to the love of her life, Charles Bowman James—introduced to her simply as “James.” Six months later, on December 26, 1950, they were married and began a beautiful life together that would span four decades. Their marriage was a true partnership, filled with love, mutual respect, laughter, and a shared devotion to their children and community.

Dona taught for a short time in Newellton before joining the faculty at Joseph Moore Davidson High School in St. Joseph, LA. While there, she was the sponsor of The Safety Club. In 1970, she began her long tenure as a mathematics teacher at Tensas Academy until her retirement, having taught for over 30 years. While at Tensas Academy, she helped sponsor the National Honor Society, among other school activities and clubs. Her classroom wasn’t just a place for equations—it was a space filled with encouragement, discipline, and belief in the potential of every student who sat before her. She was beloved and respected by her students, where she pushed them to strive for excellence, and many of them achieved top honors in state literary rallies and beyond. Her impact was so profound that she was invited to speak to fellow educators to share her passion and teaching strategies.

Even after her retirement, Dona continued to share her gift by tutoring students one-on-one from her home, always finding joy in helping young minds grow.

Beyond her work as an educator, Dona was deeply engaged in her community. She volunteered as a softball coach, played countless games of bridge, and served faithfully in clubs like the Cosmopolitan Club, Garden Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma. In her later years, she became known as one of Tensas Parish’s beloved “Golden Girls,” a title she shared with dear friends Alice Penton, Rue Lewis, and Anne Castle. Together, they laughed, traveled, and held tight to their traditions—including their much-loved “coffee club with cheese toast.”

Dona had a deep love for her home and her roots. Her garden was a reflection of that love—so beautiful and well cared for that she was awarded “Garden of the Month” more times than her grandchildren could count. They used to joke that the plaque was a permanent decoration.

She was also a fierce sports fan, especially when it came to LSU. She and her husband held season tickets and attended games together for more than 30 years. That love of the game carried over to her grandchildren, whose sporting events, recitals, graduations, and every milestone were attended with pride and joy. Even in her later years, she delighted in receiving photos and videos of her great-grandchildren and their adventures.

A woman of deep faith, Dona was a pillar of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She served as a Catechism teacher, was a member of the Altar Society, served on the Ecumenical Council, and was always there when her church family needed a helping hand. For her years of service, she was honored with the Bishop’s Service Award by the Diocese of Alexandria—a recognition she accepted with humble grace.

Dona shared a very special bond with her siblings and their spouses. Every summer, they would gather for a reunion, sharing stories of their childhood, laughing together, and reminiscing about the days that shaped them. These gatherings were a cherished tradition, full of love and laughter. Wherever they were, the family made it a priority to attend Mass together, keeping their faith and their bond as a family at the center of their lives. Despite the years and miles that separated them, the Thompson family remained incredibly close, and that closeness is something Dona carried with her throughout her life.

Dona’s heart belonged first and always to her husband, Charles “James” James, with whom she shared 40 years of love and companionship until his passing in 1991. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude Mary Mandart Thompson and Levi Joseph Thompson; her beloved daughter, Frances Ruth James Wild; her brothers, Mandart, John, and Levi Thompson; brothers-in-law, Francis and David James; and sisters-in-law, Bernice Thompson and Lillian James.

She leaves behind a legacy of love and faith carried on by her daughters, Dona Marie (Dave) Haywood of Alexandria, LA, and Mary Jo (Jimmie) Adams of Bossier City, LA; her sister, Alcidie (Jerry) Boudreaux of Lafayette, LA; her sisters-in-law, Josie Thompson of Bossier City, LA, Vonnie Thompson of Natchitoches, LA, and Iris James of Beavercreek, OH.

Her beloved grandchildren, Jennifer (Matthew) Allen of Benton, LA; Jim (Katie) Adams of Calhoun, LA; James (Anna) Haywood of New Orleans, LA; Dona (Justin) James of St. Landry, LA; Davis (Ben) Haywood of Seattle, WA; Stratton (Chris) Brown of Madison, MS; and John LaPlace of St. Gabriel, LA—will forever carry her love, warmth, and laughter in their hearts.

Her great-grandchildren, Edie, Bryn, Kate, and Rhett Allen; Boston and Violet Adams; Madison Hebert and Macy James; Murphy and Zoey Brown—brought her endless joy and pride.

She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Serving as pallbearers are James Haywood, Jim Adams, Matthew Allen, Chris Brown, Justin James, and Ben Butkowsky.

The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers and staff at Brookdale Bossier Assisted Living, Professional Home Health, and Hand in Hand Hospice for their love, compassion, and care for Dona in her final years.

Memorials may be made in Dona’s honor to Tensas Academy, www.tensasacademy.org, or St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, LA. www.diocesalex.org