Honoree Gray Donathan

Honoree Gray Donathan, 93, of Sanford, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at UNC Hospital with her loving family by her side. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Rogers Pickard Funeral Home, beginning at 2pm. A memorial service celebrating her life will follow at 3pm.

Mrs. Donathan was born on January 1, 1933, in Lee County to the late Hurley D. Coggins, Sr. and Lacy Lee Jones Coggins. She was a faithful member of Grace Chapel Church and attended until declining health prohibited. She worked hard all her life, retiring from GKN. Post retirement she enjoyed her time working at Ginger’s Daycare. She loved and adored her family and was generous to everyone.

She loved making and receiving phone calls and shopping in retail and thrift stores. She also loved going out to eat, especially at Biscuitville, as well as sharing a pizza with her lifelong best friends Marcella Gittins and Velma Rogers, while talking of old times. She enjoyed cookbooks, cooking and trying new recipes, even into her 90s. She even had a special stash of snacks she would enjoy with her favorite being her Cheetos.

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband G.W. Donathan, Jr.; two sons, Tracy Donathan and Ricky Donathan; brothers, H.D. Coggins, Jr. and Rex Coggins; sisters, Marguerite Foster Ferguson, Josephine C. Moree, Etheline C. Gunter, Norma C. Logan, and Sara C. Lee.

Surviving relatives include granddaughters, Audra Edwards (Ryan) of Augusta, GA and Kecia Peoples (Arthur) of Sanford; grandson, Skylar Donathan of Sanford; great grandchildren, Chasity Peoples (Gavin) and Skylaleigh Rose Donathan; brothers, Jack Coggins (Reba) of Sanford and Mark Coggins (Mary John) of Sanford; sisters, Linda Fogarty and Kay Welch of Sebring, FL and Gayle Burns of Okeechobee, FL; ex daughter-in-law, Shelia Joyner; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Christians United Outreach Center (CUOC) at PO Box 2217, Sanford, NC 27331 or to Clay Vessels Missions Group at Grace Chapel Church at PO Box 1408, Sanford, NC 27331.