Reverend Delores “Dee” Donnelly, 92, a pioneering clergywoman for Lutherans in the Southeast and a long-time Atlanta resident, died peacefully in Tampa, Florida on April 11, 2025, of natural causes. An Atlanta memorial service is planned for mid-June.
Rev. Donnelly was born September 6, 1932, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Wilhelmina & Peter Lewicki, immigrants from Poland and Austria. Her twelve older half brothers and sisters (six from each parent) loved her dearly.
After graduating from high school, Dee moved to Washington DC where she was an executive secretary for the FBI, sometimes working with the legendary FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who sent her a letter commending her “splendid attitude and efficiency” at work.
In DC, Dee met and fell in love with James W. “Jim” Donnelly, a young Naval Research electrician. They married in 1953, had four daughters, and were inseparable for 67 years until his death April 20, 2020. During Jim’s Navy service, they lived in Illinois, Texas, and Virginia, after which they moved to California where Jim graduated from UC Berkeley with an engineering degree. While at Berkeley, Dee helped support the family by working part time and by forming a team to type students’ papers. Using an early electric typewriter of the same model as that on display at the Smithsonian, she could exceed 110 wpm.
The family moved as Jim’s career expanded, including, Los Angeles, Wisconsin, Florida, Chicago, South Carolina, and Georgia. No matter where they lived, Dee created lifelong friendships by hosting Sunday dinners after church, holiday parties, and especially bridge games at their home. Dee had a reputation as a warm and welcoming hostess. Even when traveling in China in 1988, she hosted a birthday party for Jim and asked their grand hotel to make a birthday cake. Her daughter recalls, “They did not know how to prepare a birthday cake. Undaunted, Mom talked her way into the hotel kitchen and showed the chefs how!”
Dee loved traveling and as a young family led frequent long road trips to visit other family and friends. After her daughters were grown, she then travelled the world with Jim, including three trips to Israel, where she was the spiritual guide for “Walking Where Jesus Walked.” She especially loved cruise ship trips and took each daughter and their young families on separate, memorable vacations.
Dee valued education and did not want to be the only “Donnelly girl” without a college degree. In the 1970’s, Dee pioneered as a “non-traditional” student, taking college courses that culminated in her receiving a journalism degree at Georgia State University. Her deep Christian faith prompted her to study divinity at Emory’s Candler School of Theology and ultimately earn a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC. She broke barriers when she was ordained as one of the first female pastors in the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) in 1985.
While in seminary, she served several Atlanta area Lutheran churches including Saint John’s in Decatur, Good Shepherd in College Park and Peachtree Road in Buckhead. Following her ordination, she served as co-pastor for four years at Holy Trinity Lutheran in Marietta, and as Senior Pastor for twelve years at Lutheran Church of the Apostles in Sandy Springs. She brought Stephen Ministry programs to the churches she served and was a spiritual leader for Via de Cristo retreats.
During this period, Dee earned a reputation for being “the lady with an iron fist in a velvet glove” as she led Lutheran Church of the Apostles through a period of growth which enabled them to undergo an extensive sanctuary renovation, including the installation of a highly respected Martin Ott pipe organ to enrich their vibrant music ministry. The congregation then built a beautiful bell tower and a large education building to further honor and serve God. Dee had agreed to stay with the church until the project was completed without having assumed any debt.
After her “official” retirement, she served as an interim Senior Pastor to Lutheran churches in Chattanooga, Birmingham, Lawrenceville, and Cumming, ministering to and guiding congregations during their search for new pastoral leadership. At the then Bishop’s request, Dee mentored a group of nine Korean seminarians, using her experience and expertise to help them through the process and feel more at home in America.
Dee further made her family proud by being able to officiate three of her daughters’ weddings and one granddaughter’s, as well as baptizing five of her grandchildren. Even with her busy full-time schedule, Nana, as her Atlanta grandchildren affectionately called her, made time to attend all their extracurricular performances, birthdays, graduations, and holiday events and frequently visited her out-of-town grandchildren when they had events as well.
After retirement, Christ the King Lutheran Church at Peachtree Corners became her spiritual home. While there, she founded and led a weekly two-hour Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers support group for more than 10 years, providing both practical and spiritual support to many.
“The Rev. Delores “Dee” Donnelly was a trailblazer for women in ministry, a faithful follower of Jesus, a person of grit and determination, and the joy of the Lord with all she encountered,” said The Rev. Dr. Kevin L. Strickland, Bishop of the Southeastern Synod, ELCA. “Pastor Donnelly served within the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and touched many lives. Her legacy will live for years to come. We are a better people and church because of her. Rest eternal grant Dee. Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Many people credit Dee for having strengthened their faith journeys and helped them through difficult times. She loved all and encouraged growth and goodness. May we follow in her example.
Survivors include four daughters: Lisa Donnelly Owens (Richard), Robin Donnelly-Bandemir (the late Bob), Trisha Donnelly-Nelson (Chris), and Rhoda Donnelly; seven grandchildren: Nathan (the late Becky), Christopher (Tara), Trey (Nadia), Anastasia (Jaik), Catherine (Steven), William, and Alex; as well as three great grandchildren: Colin, Theo and Freddie Owens.
Reverend Donnelly’s Celebration of Life worship service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church at Peachtree Corners, Georgia at 11 AM on June 14, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts to the Parkinson’s Foundation’s “Rev. Delores L. Donnelly Memorial” fund at www.Parkinson.org or 800-473-4636, or 5757 Waterford District Dr., Suite 310, Miami, FL 33126, or to Christ the King Lutheran Church, Peachtree Corners at www.ctklutheran.org or 770-449-1211.