In Loving Memory of Millicent 'Merley' Donaldson

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"The greatest thing you have on earth is family."

ONLINE SERVICE:

September 11, 2025 . 10:45am

https://www.youtube.com/live/H_DJDs2SL4I

January 1, 1942 – August 19, 2025

She was the heart of her family, the keeper of traditions, and the gardener of love.

With love and sadness, the family of Millicent “Merley” Donaldson announces her passing on August 19, 2025, in Toronto, at the age of 83. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, leaving behind a legacy of faith, love, and belonging.

Born on New Year’s Day, 1942, in Manchester, Jamaica, Millicent embodied resilience, dignity, and devotion to family. In 1970, she immigrated to Canada with her beloved husband, the late Rowland Donaldson, and children. Together they built a life rooted in unity, love, and perseverance. For more than 30 years, she worked at the Sheraton Centre Toronto, where she was respected not only for her dedication but also for her quiet courage in standing up for fairness and dignity.

Her faith was central to her life. She was a member of Perth Seventh-day Adventist Church, where she and Rowland raised their children and became known for their steadfast service and advocacy. In later years, she became a cherished member of Apple Creek SDA Church, where she served as a deaconess and continued her lifelong devotion to God. For her, faith was not just worship on Sabbath, it was a daily practice of prayer, forgiveness, and service to others.

Above all, Millicent was the steady matriarch of her family: the voice on the phone who kept relatives connected across Jamaica, Canada, the U.S., and England. For more than 55 years, she never changed her phone number, proudly saying: “Everybody know where to find me.” That phone often cradled between her ear and shoulder as she kneaded bread or hemmed a dress became the living heartbeat of her family. If you couldn’t see a loved one, she would remind you: “Call them.” Through her calls, she held together generations, ensuring no one was forgotten or left behind.

Her warm kitchen, filled with the smell of fresh bread, her famous Concord grape juice, and soup on the stove, was another sanctuary. Her Easter bun, baked year-round, was a favourite that carried the taste of home. Her garden of roses and floral arches, growing taller than she was, reflected her patience and love of beauty. Her wide-brimmed church hats and hand-sewn dresses reflected her quiet elegance and dignity.

Millicent also stood firmly against injustice: defending her children against discrimination, protecting coworkers at the hotel, and always reminding others of her guiding belief: “The greatest thing you have on earth is family.”

Millicent is predeceased by her husband Rowland, children through marriage Gerald “Bunny” and Barbara, her mother Edna Pitter (Hickey), her father Aubrey Hickey, and several siblings.

She is survived by her children:

P. Elijah-Marie (children Neil and Ashten)
Malcolm (children Jalyn, Jhordana, and Jared)
Clifton (children Mathew, Nathaniel, and Deandra)

Children embraced through her marriage with Rowland:

Alva (Tony), Cheryl, and Pam, along with their families

Grandchildren: Neil, Jalyn, Ashten, Mathew, Jhordana, Nathaniel, Jared, and Deandra
Great-grandchildren: Aaliyah, Makayla

Grandchildren (through marriage): Kenneth Samuels, Sherril (Donaldson) Boyd, Andre Donaldson, Claudia (Donaldson) Harrington, Gary Donaldson, Derwin Stephenson, Alethia Stephenson, Junielle Graham, Zelig Brown

Great-grandchildren (through marriage): Kenneth A. Samuels, Rashad Gholston, Tina Marie Rodgers, Jacobi Harrington, Jayden Harrington, Earl Boyd Jr., Harmony Donaldson, Zoe Donaldson, Tahj Donaldson, Malik Donaldson, Charles Stephenson

She is also survived by her siblings Egan, Margaret, Joanne, Teddy, Junior, and Hugh — whose children; Tony, Trussan,Clive, Selbourne (predeceased) and Sage she embraced as her own. As well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family across Jamaica, Canada, the U.S., and England.

Millicent Slideshow.mp4

Most especially, Millicent is remembered by her cousin and lifelong friend MyMy, with whom she shared a bond of sisterhood from childhood through to her final days, a friendship that was a source of laughter, strength, and unwavering love.

Millicent’s story will be remembered as one of courage, compassion, and connection. Her phone never stopped ringing, her kitchen never stopped feeding, and her heart never stopped giving. She lived her faith, loved without limits, and created a legacy of resilience and generosity that will continue to guide her family for generations.

Her life was a testament to her favourite saying: “The greatest thing you have on earth is family.”