Mrs. Donna Jane Ackerman Youngblood passed away in the early morning hours of January 15, 2025 following a long battle with her health at Pruitt rehabilitation center under the care of Hospice.  She was 80 years of age.    

Donna was born in Walterboro South Carolina on October 27, 1944 and the daughter of the late Joseph Virgil Ackerman and Mary Miley Ackerman Schiefen of Walterboro, SC. She was also the stepdaughter of the late LT. Harold Shiefen of Casselberry, Fl.  She graduated from Walterboro High School in 1962 and attended the University of South Carolina where she received a bachelor’s degree in English Education in 1965.  She then attended graduate school at the University of Georgia, achieving her master’s degree in English Education in 1973.  She was married in Walterboro, SC on August 10,1974 before moving to the Wilmington Island Area of Savannah in 1975. In 1982 they welcomed their only child Megan into the world

For over 53 years, she was a dedicated teacher to students of all ages. She spent 32 of those years as a high school English teacher at Benedictine Military School in Savannah, GA., where she also served as the cheerleader advisor and head of the English department for many years. Her passion was American literature and she loved to share her wealth of knowledge with young minds that have now grown into pillars of the community as professors, doctors, lawyers, members of clergy, successful business owners in both the Savannah area and throughout the country.

In addition to teaching at BC, she was a professor of English at Savannah State University, South University, and Virginia College. Her other teaching credits include: Groves High School, Hancock Day School, Oconee High School and Elbert County High School. She was a born educator and truly loved giving back to the community through instilling knowledge, integrity and social graces into her students. 

However, her greatest joy was spending time with her grandsons. She loved to read to them, help them with homework, take them to lunch and share her Christian faith and values with them every day. Even though her health was declining, she was supportive of their dreams and encouraged them to grow up to be strong and gracious young men.

She is survived by her loving husband of 50 years Jeffery C. Youngblood of Perry, GA, her daughter Megan Youngblood Wilbur (Vanuel) of Savannah, Ga and her two grandsons Jeffery (11) and Braydon (7) As well as, a host of extended cousins and family members in Florida, South Carolina and Georgia

She will be remembered by the thousands of students she has taught along the way and the many lives she has changed through her passion for education and teaching.

A Memorial service will be held on January 25th at 11am in her honor at Isle of Hope Baptist Church 22 Rose Avenue in Savannah, GA 31406 with a reception to follow in the social hall.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donations in her memory towards Donna’s extensive, end of life medical expenses, as well as her funeral costs and services. Donations can be addressed to Jeff Youngblood or Megan Wilbur and be dropped off at Fox and Weeks Funeral home at 7200 Hodgson Memorial Dr, or at the Isle of Hope Baptist Church Office. The family has also created a memorial fund were donations can be made directly to:  

https://cash.app/$dyoungbloodmemorial

https://paypal.me/MomMemorialfund

             Thank you all for your continued prayers, well wishes and beautiful memories shared!

“But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary!” – Isaiah 40:31