Donna Denise Conner Howell

Mrs. Donna Denise Conner Howell, 63, died Friday, April 18, 2025, at her home in Oxford, Mississippi. The funeral will be Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Bro. Roger Howell officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 9:30 A.M. Burial will follow the service in Yellow Leaf Cemetery.

Donna was born on November 20, 1961, in Oxford, Mississippi, to the late Mary Lou Erikson and Frank Conner. She dedicated her life to the care of others, working as a nurse at Graceland Care Center of Oxford for over 20 years providing diligent care to the residents. Amongst her coworkers and employers, she was adored and deeply missed after her retirement. Donna later worked as an executive assistant in the registrar’s office at The University of Mississippi, enjoying a more relaxed role.

While Donna enjoyed her work, her life truly revolved around her family. She was the fierce protector of her children and grandchildren, and raised them to look after and defend one another no matter what. She, of course, could not have done this without her husband and best friend, Frank, by her side. Throughout their marriage, their love for one another grew deeper each and every year. As they watched their children grow, leave home, and start families of their own, Donna was filled with pride and bittersweet joy, knowing that they had lived the greatest life together. She cherished the many memories they made camping, fishing, and going to the lake, all crammed into a camper together. While there certainly had to have been lots of fights and bickering along the way, Donna remembered only the laughter and love. After becoming a grandmother, it was no surprise when she mastered that role, too, devoting all of her time to visits with them. She loved taking them outside to play, teaching them about nature, and reminiscing on her own years raising her little ones. In addition to her parents, Donna was preceded in death by her sister, Deborah Conner.

Donna is survived by her beloved husband of 23 years, Frank Howell, III; daughter, Macie McGregor and her husband, Donald, of Batesville, MS, and Nicole Howell and her husband, Jason of Middleton, TN; sons, Erik Conner and his wife, Tonya, of Oxford, MS, and Frank Howell IV, and his wife, Morgan of Charleston, SC; sister, Tina Conner Brennan of Oxford, MS; 13 grandchildren, McKenzie Conner, Maddie Allen, Conner Allen, Ella Allen, Hayden Thurlow, Holly Howell, Frank Howell V, Jaydon Cruse, Jett Cruse, Chandler Blalock, Morgan Huffman, Michael McGregor, and Breanna McGregor; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Donna’s memory may be made to Yellow Leaf Cemetery, 22 Highway 334, Oxford, Mississippi 38655.