Donna Joyce Jackson, 74
Donna Joyce Jackson, 74, of Mt. Sterling, passed away peacefully, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, after a lengthy illness, at her home in Mt. Sterling.
Born March 28, 1951, in Mt. Sterling, she was the daughter of the late May Buntin Toy Dunaway and Donald Gulley, both of Sharpsburg. She was a member of the Grace Gospel Church in Sharpsburg and was a wife, mother, homemaker, photographer, artist, and highly respected retired school teacher. She was raised in Sharpsburg and graduated from Bath County High School in 1969, where she was captain of the award-winning cheerleading squad and a member of that year’s “Top 10 Graduates.” In 1973 she graduated from Morehead State University where she was president of the Chi Omega Sorority, an officer in eight other organizations, and chairman of the editorial board of the Trail Blazer, Morehead’s newspaper. Also, while in college she became the first female highway construction worker in the state of Kentucky, and went to Washington, D.C., as a Kentucky Delegate during the Equal Rights Amendment fight in 1972. She then went on to attend Central Texas College, the University of Texas at Austin, and California Lutheran College where she received her master’s degree. She became a teacher at Leander and Georgetown High Schools in Texas where she taught journalism and photography. Two of her photography students were named “Best High School Photographers” in the nation, for which she won a scholarship to the highly acclaimed Brooks Institute of Photography and the Visual Arts in Santa Barbara, Calif. Later, she taught high school in Oxnard, Calif., and ultimately retired from teaching after many years at Montgomery County High School in Mt. Sterling. She was also a wedding and portrait photographer, co-owner of Jackson Galleries Antiques and Distinctive Photography, and served as one of the original board members of the Gateway Regional Center for the Arts in Mt. Sterling. She often self-effacingly described herself as a “can do” person and indeed she was, as well as a devoted wife, mother, loving grandmother of five grandchildren, and a true lover of animals.
Survivors include her husband of 35 years, William “Bill” Jackson of Mt. Sterling; two sons, Alexander Przygoda (Lynn) of Lexington and Gregory Colin Przygoda (Savannah) of Orcas Island, Wash.; two sisters, Debra Ann Baber (Johnny) of Owingsville and Nancy Ward (Mark) of Lexington; step-father, John Dunaway of Sharpsburg; loving companion, Bichon Frise puppy, Mr. Marcus Aurelius “Peabody” Jackson Jr.; and five grandchildren, Aryana Przygoda, River Przygoda, Alexander Jackson Przygoda, Lucas White and Tate White, all of Lexington.
With her teachings, in her activities, and in her relationships, she has touched the hearts and souls of many, many people. She will be sadly missed by her family and friends and the many others who knew her. May God rest her soul in peace.
A celebration of life will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Taul Funeral Home Chapel with Johnny Baber officiating. Visitation will be 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Friday.
