Donald Holyfield was born in Akron, Ohio on December 30, 1936, to the union of the late Ross Cleveland and Lillian Holyfield.
He was a faithful member of Akron Apostolic Temple under the pastorate of Bishop Stanley Robinson.
Donald graduated from Garfield High School. He was a veteran and honorably discharged from the Marine Corp. He retired from the United States Postal Service. He loved walking, bicycling, fishing, and the Cleveland Browns.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ross and Lillian Holyfield; brothers, Ross Cleveland Holyfield Jr., John Reaves, Emmit Reaves, and Douglas Reaves; and sister, Elizabeth Boswell.

He leaves to cherish his memory his sons, Donald Charles “Bic” Holyfield, Charles De’Vante “Tay-Tay” Holyfield of Columbus, Ohio, and Timothy De’Paul “Timmy” Holyfield of Akron, Ohio; daughter, Qiuana Griffin; mother-in-law, Eloise Simpson (my friend); former wife, and mother of his children, Patricia Simpson; grandsons, De’Vante Lee Holyfield, Amareon Easley, and Octavious Chandler; granddaughter, Kadence Chandler; great-granddaughter, Jerni Easley; brother, Ray (Leola) Holyfield; sister, Helen Woodley of Atlanta, Georgia; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.