Reverend Donna Bennett Coffman (nee Donna Rae Bennett) peacefully joined the Communion of Saints on March 28, 2018 at home in Fuquay-Varina, NC at the age of 70.

She was a rare soul who, bravely and with phenomenal grace, fought the rarest of mesenchymal sarcomas for more than 25 years.

Donna is survived by her husband, Terry Wayne Coffman of Fuquay-Varina, NC; children: Shawn Morris Coffman of Mint Hill, NC and Heather Coffman Daniels (husband, Chris) of Fuquay-Varina, NC; Grandchildren: Jeffrey, Hannah, and Daniel Coffman; and Collin, Brenna, Claire, and Tucker Daniels; siblings: Camilla Cabaniss (husband, Johnsey) of Roanoke, VA, Mark Bennett (wife, Nancy) of Powhatan, VA, Greg Bennett (Wife, Barbara) of Flat Rock, NC, and Kevin Bennett (wife, Rhonda) of Four Oaks, NC; the beloved extended Coffman family; and her sister in faith, Mary Lou McMillin. Donna was preceded in death by her loving parents, Olen Emerson and Gladys Morris Bennett of Covington, VA; her beloved grandparents, Malcolm Arguile and Myrtle Edith Rose Morris; and her "Soul Sister", Emily Scott Gilkeson.

Donna was born August 3, 1947 in Clifton Forge, VA. She graduated from Alleghany High School in 1965; from Dabney S. Lancaster Community College with an AAS in Nursing in 1974; from Virginia State University with a BIS in Social Sciences in 1990; from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education with a Masters in Christian Education in 1997; from Union Theological Seminary with a Masters in Divinity in 1997; and was ordained to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church, USA in 1997.

She married Terry, the love of her life, on June 5, 1968 and soon moved to Erlangen, Germany, where Terry was serving in the U. S. Army. After their son, Shawn, was born, they returned to the Alleghany Highlands of Virginia, where their daughter, Heather, was born. The family lived in multiple southeastern states and positively impacted every community they lived in.

Donna's family and friends remember her as a Seeker, a Searcher, and a Sower. She sowed seeds of love and faith in hearts and minds across the world.

Donna was incredibly gifted: a member of both the Southern Highlands Craft Guild and Shenandoah Writer's Guild; a dedicated geriatric nurse; founder of Caring Congregations (a Parish nursing and health ministry program that served over 120 congregations across 22 different denominations); an award-winning author of multiple books and articles (and an active blogger with her www.caringspirit.net blog); a remarkable pastor, minister, and an eloquent speaker. She was passionate about reading, gardening, and nature studies; ministering to the elderly; her Appalachian heritage; Celtic Spirituality; her Hands and Hearts Ministry (crafting tangible prayer projects for all); Groundhog Day; and her family and dear friends.

In 2009, she retired from active ministry in the Shenandoah Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, USA. Even after retirement, she was a spiritual guide for the formation of the Kirk of Holly Springs, PCUSA in Holly Springs, NC (a satellite of the Kirk of Kildaire, PCUSA, Cary, NC).

Celebration of Life services are being held on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, NC. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m., the service at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church.

Another Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Harrisonburg, VA. Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m., the service at 2:00 p.m. with a reception to follow at the church. A final service of commitment will be held in Covington, VA in the summer (time and date to be determined). All are welcome to attend and celebrate Donna's remarkable life.

The family would like to thank the phenomenal healthcare team from Duke University Health System, the team from Amedysis Hospice of Cary, NC for their care and compassion during the final months of Donna's journey, and the multitude of Prayer Warriors and friends that have supported our family over these many years.

Condolences may be posted to http://www.memorialsolutions.com/sitemaker/memsol.cgi?page=profile&user_id=2087497. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Duke Cancer Center – Sarcoma Research, Durham, NC McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church, Covington, VA Kirk of Holly Springs (Presbyterian Church, USA), Holly Springs, NC In typical Donna humor, she found her own epitaph on a 19th century tombstone in Blandford Cemetery in Petersburg, VA – "She Did What She Could".