Donyale Y. Henderson

Donyale passed away January 28, 2021 at the age of 50. Born on the fourth of July in 1970, she was the daughter of Donald and Mary “Darlene” Moran Henderson of Dayton.

She attended Jefferson Township High School and graduating in 1988. As a youth, Donyale was Miss Radcliff at her school and the second runner up in the Miss Ebony contest presented by the National Council of Negro Women of Dayton. During her senior year in high school, Donyale participated in the Debutante Ball presented by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

She attended Wright State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English in 1994. While a college student, she had an internship with WHIO television and also worked with Dayton radio broadcasting entrepreneur Ro Nita Hawes-Saunders. During this time, she became active in the Dayton chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Also, while a student at Wright State, Donyale worked as an intern for NCR in the Community Relations department.

After earning her bachelor’s degree, she was hired full-time to work for NCR at its corporate headquarters in Dayton. A member of the company’s product marketing team, Donyale held positions in product and marketing management. She eventually moved to San Diego, California, with the company when it spun off its subsidiary, Teradata. She received employee awards for her service to both companies.

A woman of faith, while in Dayton she was a member of Corinthian Baptist Church, and sang in the church choir. In California, she was a member of Bayview Baptist Church in San Diego, CA sang in the church choir there until moving to Temecula, CA. In Temecula, she attended Rancho Community Church.

Donyale was also active in her community as a volunteer, serving as a public relations and marketing coordinator for San Diego’s 2019 Women Week. She also worked with the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, John F. & Adelia F. Moran, Grandmother, Katherine Henderson.

She leaves to cherish her memory her parents Donald and Mary D. Henderson, sisters Kiva Henderson, Dr. Joya Sykes and  brother-in-law Carlton Sykes, Two nephews, Cyrus and Chase Sykes, one niece, Ca’more Sykes. Aunts: Audrey Brooks, Lexington, Ky., and Frances Baxter, Louisville Ky., Peggy Johnson, Dayton Oh., Francine Mullins, London, England, Veitra Moran, Berea, Ky., Margaret Moran, Rosemary Seitz, Tn, Liz Moran, Ca., Uncles: James Henderson, Dayton, Oh., Paul Moran, Crenada Hills, Ca., Henry Johnson, Dayton, Oh., Byron Byrd, London, England, Jeff Seitz, Tenn. A host of cousins. Special: Yvette Brooks, Donald Brooks, son of Paula Brooks, whom she affectionally called “brother”, Ca., Ron and Lynn McConnell, Las Vegas, Rev. Garth and Kimberly Gilliam, Tim Baxter, Louisville, Ky., Josh Davis, Atlanta, Ga., a host of special friends: Dr. Patrick Spencer, Patsy Martin, Rhonda Adams, Nead and Dianne Walker, Octavia and Shawn Alexander, Andy and Carlette Hawkins, Angela Petty, Shelia Stringer and Yvonne Moody.

Donyale loved family and her family loved her very much and will miss her greatly!! Special thanks to all the medical staff who cared for her and special thanks for the prayers from everyone! Special thanks to the Thornton family and Jackie & Melody Huguely.

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