Donna R. Betts was born on December 1, 1951 in Harriman, Tennessee to Inez Evelina (Fields) and Charles Edward Reynolds. She was the youngest of Inez’s 9 children. Donna was preceded in death by her father Charles Reynolds, mother Inez Fields, dad Timothy Fields, and sister Sharon Reynolds.

Donna came to Cleveland, Ohio at the age of 5 with her eldest sister, Elaine Copeland. She accepted Jesus Christ in 1963 at Pentecostal Church of Christ under the leadership of Pastor Charles Watkins. Donna made the decision to be re-baptized in 1983 at Second Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church by Reverend Ernest Washington Jr. the day her daughter and son were baptized. Donna was an active member of Mt. Moriah Christian Center and Elizabeth Baptist Church.

Donna graduated from East High School and was a proud Mighty, Blue Bomber. Donna began working in the Warrensville Heights School District in 1987 as a part-time playground attendant and worked her way up to full-time certified paraprofessional teacher’s aide before retiring in 2016. During her tenure at Warrensville, she worked at John Dewey Elementary, Eastwood Elementary, and Warrensville Heights High School.

Donna was attending Cuyahoga County Community College (Tri-C) in 1970 when she met the love of her life, Benjamin Betts III.  They dated for 5 months before marrying on August 6, 1971. For more than 53 years, Ben and Donna were each other’s best friend and sweetheart. From their union came Kecia and Benjamin (IV).

When she was able, Donna loved to dance. She was known for her straight forward manner and huge heart. She handed out both love and discipline in generous portions, and was a fierce defender of honesty and the truth. She made friends everywhere she went and had a special connection with people who felt unseen by others. She would give you anything she had if you were in need; she had every kitchen tool on the market. She not only fed people physically with her cornbread, green beans, chicken spaghetti, pound cakes and butter cookies – her love and compassion fed the spirits of everyone she knew.

Donna leaves to cherish her memory husband: Benjamin Betts III; daughter Kecia A. Betts, son Benjamin Betts IV (Brandi); grandchildren Benjamin  Betts V (Cinco), Bryce Betts, and Brielle Turner; siblings Elaine Copeland, Brenda Waryas (Bill); Patricia Scott, Stanley Chaney (Felina), Richard and brother in-law Reynolds (Yana), Jessica Day, Janice Jackson; sisters in-law Patricia Roddy, and Beverly Glass, brother in-law Robert (Bobby) Betts; mother in-law Ann Betts, cousins, and friends. Donna is beloved by a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.