Donald Washington

WASHINGTON, DONALD departed this life on April 30, 2022 after an extended illness. Donald was born on November 20, 1951, to George A. Washington, Sr., and Helen Gardner Washington in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the youngest son and last born of their five surviving children. Donald became a faithful member of Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama as a child and continued his love for the Lord as a member of Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Cincinnati, Ohio for over 40 years.

Donald was educated in the Jefferson County School District in Birmingham, Alabama, first attending Brunetta C. Hill Elementary School and then graduating from A.H. Parker High School in 1969. He enrolled in Virginia Union University; graduating in 1973 with a degree in business administration. While at Virginia Union, Donald met the love of his life, Vicki C. Blackwell. They married in July 1976 and settled in Richmond, Virginia, where he worked for the Philip Morris USA Corporation for the next 25 years. From this union, Donald and Vicki welcomed their only child in 1985, Adrienne Melan Washington. Donald was a firm, yet loving father and beloved husband who enjoyed spending time with his family and strived to provide his daughter with every possible opportunity to succeed in life.

His work at Philip Morris led him to transfer to an opening position at their Cincinnati, Ohio offices in 1979. This transfer brought Donald a new beginning, a life where he established himself as a dedicated hard-working employee, a devoted member of his church, and an advocate for his local community. Early in his career, Donald worked his way through the ranks by becoming a division manager for Philip Morris. After many years with Philip Morris, Donald decided to seek his calling elsewhere and began the next phase of his career as a deputy director for the Cincinnati Hamilton County Community Action Agency. He received recognition for his work as a community action professional. The final chapter of his career was working as a healthcare coordinator for UHCAN Ohio, a non-profit organization. This position was one that Donald was deeply committed to due to his belief that all individuals, regardless of income and
status, should have open access to affordable healthcare. His involvement with the Hamilton County Board of Health allowed him to speak for those who were unable to speak for themselves. For his advocacy, he was given the Healthcare Service Award in 2013 for his excellent leadership and devoted service to the community. Donald also received the FCA (Faith & Community Alliance of Greater Cincinnati) Organization Award of the Year in 2015. Donald retired in July 2021 after 25 years of community engagement and service.

Donald was an active and loyal member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. He pledged at the Virginia Union University Chapter, the Alpha Gamma (E) of Kappa Alpha Psi in the Fall of 1970 (“Kool & The Gang”). He later served as a member of the Richmond (VA) Alumni Chapter from 1974 to 1979. After his job relocation, he continued his services as a Kappa by becoming a member of the Cincinnati (OH) Alumni Chapter in 1980. During his membership, Donald was given an Appreciation Award for his tenure as the 31st Polemarch of the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter. He also received an award for his dedicated commitment for various fraternity-related programs. One of his most distinguished mentions was when Donald celebrated his 50 years of service as a member of Kappa Alpha Psi in December of 2020. He was also a member of the Argus Club and served as its president.

As a man of faith, Donald found a permanent church home with Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, located in the Evanston neighborhood of Cincinnati. Although he was first brought up as a Baptist, he found a home with the Episcopal Church due to a local neighbor who took him and his siblings to church with her occasionally. From this introduction, Donald became a lifelong Episcopalian and soon the rest of his immediate family followed suit. As an adult, he was an active participant in serving on several organizations within Saint Andrew’s: the Saint Andrew’s Vestry, the Men of Saint Andrew’s, and the Saint Andrew’s Search Committee. During his active church years, he was awarded the Saint Andrew’s Man of the Year Award in 1999 and 2019; the second time he won, he was awarded alongside his wife, Vicki, who won the 2019 Saint Andrew’s Woman of the Year Award.

Donald was a man of integrity, a loyal friend to the end, a true “Kappa Brother,” and above all a dedicated family man. Donald loved his family and would visit them in Alabama every chance he could. He didn’t mince words and was steadfast. He loved listening to James Brown and Al Green; he would put them on repeat, especially when it came to their Christmas recordings. He loved to listen to jazz and played the saxophone during his youth. One of his recognizable features was his uncanny resemblance to the actor, Billy Dee Williams, of which he would be mistaken for by many people he encountered. It would be a running joke for most of his life, which he took in good stride. Although he became a lifelong sports fan of
the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals, he never forgot his Alabama roots and often cheered for Alabama’s college football team: “Roll Tide!”

Donald was preceded in death by his father, George A. Washington, Sr.; brothers, Alphonso and Alonzo Washington; and sister-in-law, Melody J. Washington. He leaves to cherish his memories: his devoted and loving wife of 45 years, Vicki B. Washington; daughter, Adrienne M. Washington (Taylor Hackworth); mother, Helen G. Washington; three brothers, George A. Washington, Jr. (Jackie), Harold L. Washington (Melody), and Cecil E. Washington (Olivia); one sister, Minnie C. Finley (Richard); sister-in-law, Brenda M. Blackwell; brother-in-law, Francis W. Blackwell, Jr.; nephews, George A. Washington III, Brian Y. Washington, Jerry C. Washington, Cecil E. Washington, Jr., Donald J. Washington, Armand C. Blackwell, and Ryan W. Blackwell; nieces, Nikkia K. Knight, Nikara K. McNeely, Helen C. Ford, Cicely E. Griggs, Alyson A. Baxter, Ariana K. Darrin, Nichole Blackwell, Kelley Monroe, and Roxanne Blackwell; one aunt, Mary J. Gardner; and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, family friends, and Kappa brothers, all of whom he loved and respected.