Donna Lewis Cleveland

Donna Lewis Cleveland passed away suddenly on August 4, 2023, at her home on John’s Island in her beloved Lowcountry of South Carolina. Born in Spartanburg on November 25, 1952, to the late Giles Patterson and Ginevra Marxmiller Cleveland, she was a declared California girl who did her share of time on both coasts. She used to surf before high school, excelled at drip castles and later in life, preferred nothing more than a good beach chair parked close to the shoreline. She enjoyed getting lost in a book and found herself happiest with tunes playing on her vintage radios or with her dearest musician friends. She was proud of her roots and was a free spirit. She was generous and thrifty. She believed equally in good manners and being playful and she absolutely loved to travel.

She lived in San Diego and Honolulu with young children, did her fair share of time in Switzerland with friends and family, enjoyed the Montana mountains and was delighted always in the mystique, allure, culture, and serenity of what she called Charleston’s “Slowcountry”.

All of these places consistently afforded her what she loved the most – the joys of fresh air, a sense of adventure and meeting new people. Apart from raising her children, Donna contributed time and energy to organizations that were near and dear to her heart, she worked for Delta Airlines for a decade, and she received her floral design certificate from the New York Botanical Garden. Donna captivated many of us with her larger-than-life personality and her surprising generosity was the true beat of her drum.

Her creative nature was apparent in everything she did and remains most evident in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her daughter Jessica Hundhausen Derrick (Butler) and granddaughter, Ginevra “Gigi”; son Herman “Hank” Henry Hundhausen III (Bee) and grandchildren, Hakon and Helena. Donna is survived by brother Dexter Alden Cleveland (Lea Ann) and predeceased by her parents and brother Jesse Patterson Cleveland.

A private memorial service with family and close friends will take place at the Georgia Alden Cleveland Memorial Bell Tower where she will be laid to rest at The Episcopal Church of the Advent. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Luke's Free Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 3466, Spartanburg, SC 29304.

An online guest register is available at www.floydmortuary.com

Floyd’s North Church Street