Donna Palmertree Traywick

Donna Palmertree Traywick, age 89, passed away Monday morning, June 29, 2026, at Oxford Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oxford, MS.

Services for Donna will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Mt. Olivet Methodist Church in Batesville, MS with the interment to follow at Forrest Memorial Park in Batesville, MS. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 A.M. prior to the service Wednesday.

Donna was born on March 23, 1937, in Batesville, MS to the late Jeff Berlin and Miss Jessie Buchanan Palmertree. She lived a long and fruitful life marked by deep devotion to family, unwavering faith, and a gift for music and community service that left a lasting impact on all who knew her.

From her earliest days, Donna’s gentle spirit and exceptional talents shone brightly. At just twelve years old, she began playing the piano for Mt. Olivet Methodist Church, a calling that blossomed into nearly eight decades of service to her beloved congregation. Her hands graced the piano keys with grace and strength, providing comfort and joy to the congregation every Sunday well into her late eighties.

Donna dedicated many years of her life as a piano instructor in her hometown of Batesville, nurturing creativity and inspiring a love of music in countless students. To her, every lesson was a chance to ignite a new passion and foster self-confidence in others—a lasting gift that continues to echo in the lives she touched.

Beyond her remarkable musical contributions, Donna’s generosity extended throughout her community. Her involvement in numerous local organizations was woven together by a steadfast desire to serve and uplift others. Of particular significance to her were the Panola Cancer Society and Diabetes Association, where she worked tirelessly to support essential causes close to her heart. She was also an active participant in the Meals on Wheels program in Panola County, providing nourishment and compassionate company to neighbors in need.

Donna’s hobbies brought her quiet happiness and joy. She dearly loved horses and cherished time spent at horse shows, delighting in these graceful creatures. In later years, her favorite pastime became following her beloved grandson, Alex, to baseball games, always his most enthusiastic and supportive fan.

Those left to carry forward Donna’s memory include her devoted daughter, LaDonna T. Murphree (Greg) and her treasured grandson, Alex Murphree. She is reunited in eternal peace with her dear husband, George Traywick; her sisters, Rubye P. Williams, Dorris P. Baker, Annie Louise Palmertree, and Mary Palmertree; her brothers, Ellis Palmertree, Eugene Palmertree, and Glen Palmertree; and her loving parents, Jeff Berlin Palmertree and Miss Jessie Buchanan Palmertree.

The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Mt. Olivet Church family, whose prayers, visits, calls, and messages brought comfort and strength throughout Donna’s journey.