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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Donna Gray Tuten passed away peacefully in her sleep Saturday, January 17, 2026, at her home in Jacksonville, Fla.
Mrs. Tuten was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jeryl Tuten, with whom she
Tuten
shared 56 years of marriage, partnership, and adventure; her pare nts, Phanita and Marvin Gray; and her brothers, Tommy Gray and Maurice Gray.
Mrs. Tuten is survived by her children, Jay and Holly; her grandsons, Gray and Connor Brumbelow, who brought her endless joy; her daughter- in-law, Courtney Harris Tuten; her sister-in-law and best friend, Gloria Hanson; and her faithful cat, Dooley Dawg. She also ia survived by many extended family members and dear friends whom she loved and considered family.
Mrs. Tuten grew up on her family’s farm in the Jamestown community of Waycross where she learned the values that shaped her life — hard work, resilience, and a deep appreciation for family. As a young woman, Mrs. Tuten was an active member of the Ware County 4-H Club and won numerous beauty pageants. She was crowned Miss Waycross and Miss Ware County, honors that reflected both her grace and confidence. Those roots stayed with her, even as her life took her far beyond South Georgia.
Mrs. Tuten and her family were fortunate to live in several cities across the United States over the years. Wherever she lived, Mrs. Tuten created a warm and welcoming home while always maintaining a strong connection to her Waycross roots. Known for her incredible Southern cooking, Mrs. Tuten’s hospitality brought people together, and her homes were filled with warmth, laughter, and the unmistakable comfort of being truly cared for. Along the way, she made new friends, built lasting relationships, and created memories that stayed with her throughout her life.
Mrs. Tuten turned her love of exploration into a career in travel which became her life’s work. She and Jeryl’s shared love of exploration led them to form Worldwide Journeys, a travel company that helped others experience the world as thoughtfully and joyfully as they did. An avid traveler, Mrs. Tuten visited six of the seven continents, with Antarctica the only one left unexplored.
She possessed a sharp wit and a natural gift for storytelling, which she shared through her column, “Sometimes Silly, Sometimes Sad,” in the Waycross Journal-Herald.
Her humorous and reflective writing captured the beauty and chaos of everyday life and resonated deeply with those who read it.
Above all, Mrs. Tuten cherished her family. She will be remembered as a devoted mother and grandmother, a woman of strength, warmth, and humor.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, January 23 at the Music Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Sympathy may be expressed by posting to her tribute wall at www.musicfuneralhome. com.
Music Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
