Donny Burkes Todd, 78, passed peacefully on to his eternal home on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 Donny was born on November 24, 1946, to Howard Lamar and Mary Evon Todd in Louisville, MS. As a teen in Louisville, Donny excelled in sports, particularly basketball. Devoting much time and effort to this passion, he made lifelong friends out of countless teammates and coaches. Long after he hung up his basketball high-tops, he continued to be an avid sports fan and had a photographic memory for sports statistics that led to innumerable earnest conversations with friends and family about his favorite topic, the Mississippi State Bulldogs. For much of his life, Donny was a loyal Bulldog fan who, without fail, always optimistically proclaimed “they have real potential this year.” Through countless tailgates and football and basketball games with precious friends and family, he instilled this love for the Bulldogs into his girls who both hold degrees from his beloved university.
Donny graduated from Louisville High School in 1965. Following his graduation from East Central Junior College in 1967, he matriculated to Mississippi State University where he developed his passion for Bulldog athletics. After completing his academic career, he had the opportunity to work out west “on the pipeline” and always spoke fondly of the people he met and the adventures he had in what he called “the most beautiful” place he had ever been. He met the love of his life, Kay Arnett, also a Louisville native, and they married at Poplar Flat Baptist Church on November 4, 1972. Donny went to work at Taylor Machine Works where he would remain a decades-long steadfast employee until his retirement in July of 2017. He served his country faithfully as a National Guardsman and Reserve officer and was deployed to active service during Desert Storm where he spent months with his unit in Fort Hood, TX, away from his adoring family.
As passionate as he was about watching and talking about sports and spending time with his much-loved girls, Donny’s love for Jesus and the church was forefront. A devout Christian, he made sure to have his family present every time the church doors were open. He served many years as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at South Louisville Baptist Church where he raised his family. In later years, he worshipped and also served leadership roles at Poplar Flat Baptist Church. He spent a lot of his free time studying God’s Word preparing his Sunday school lessons and always gave the most heartfelt, genuine prayers whether in public or privately with his beloved family. His love for the church and passion for the Gospel touched many lives.
A faithful and devoted husband for 52 years, Donny leaves behind his sweetheart, Kay Arnett Todd (Ridgeland, MS). He was the dearest and most patient “girl dad” to his daughters, Dr. Misty Sharp (Jason) of Columbus, MS, and Ginger Gorman (Shane) of Madison, MS. After raising two independent and strong-willed daughters, Donny was immensely proud of his five precious grandsons, Todd and Parker Sharp and Griffin, Grant, and Tanner Gorman. He was a supportive and loving father and grandfather, and they are all devastated at the loss of their mentor and patriarch. Additional survivors include his siblings, Bobby Todd (the late Jo Helen) of Louisville, Cindy Todd and Karey Todd, both of Philadelphia and his siblings-in-law, Dr. William Arnett (Delores) of Madison, Wayne Arnett of Brandon, and Carolyn Varner (Robert) of Madison as well as a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, and friends. His daughters are eternally grateful for the compassion, friendship, and care selflessly given to their father by their Uncle William during the last two years of his life. Donny is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Mary Evon Todd and sister-in-law, Jo Helen Todd.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, January 3 at Massey Funeral Home. There will also be a visitation the day of the service at the church from 10 a.m. until service time. A going-home celebration will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 4 at Poplar Flat Baptist Church in Louisville.
