Donald Spikes Brinkley III was our loving son and big brother for 29 years. He went to be with the Lord on April 7, 2014. The Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014 at Saint John’s Baptist Church off Holland Road in Virginia Beach, VA at 5:00 p.m.
“Little Don” was our blessing and a blessing to others as he freely wanted to be there for others and help with anything they needed. He always put other’s needs before his own and really enjoyed doing this as he felt this was his purpose in life – to be there for others.
Our baby, Donald III, was given to us by God on April 16, 1984 and he brought great joy into our lives. He loved the outdoors and learning life’s secrets on how to discover God’s gifts of nature. He was his dad’s “buddy” and they constantly did the “guy things” of yard work, fishing, camping, and whatever they wanted to do together. Donald III was a gift to his mother as he freely shared his love and hugs and always helped her when she needed him. They loved the times when they would take nature walks or bicycle rides just being mother and son sharing their thoughts.
Even though his nickname was “Little Don”, he was a BIG brother to his two sisters, Christy and Candice. He always wanted to make sure he helped them with homework, crafts, cooking, and learning how to live as an adult with credit cards, insurance, and bank accounts. As a big brother he fulfilled a role that a parent couldn’t. He knew all the secrets and life’s mistakes that his sisters made. He never judged them; he only gave them advice and helped them work out the hardships they faced. Don cared for the people he loved more than he cared for himself. His sisters knew that and that is the one thing they will never be able to live without. He truly was a GREAT BIG brother and gave his sisters a wonderful gift of his time and wisdom along with his enormous love.
Donald III graduated from Princess Anne High School in the International Baccalaureate Program with honors and from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s degree in Bio-Medical Engineering.
He enjoyed being creative and crafty. He did this through many things like jewelry making and wood working but his passion was always photography. He pursued photography because he realized that he had found a way of capturing the beauty of nature and God’s creations. He was really good at identifying the “peaceful” settings and smallest creatures. He began to start his own business with this photography gift.
Donald III loved to cook and create “unique” dishes to share with others. He enjoyed being able to create something out of what seemed to be nothing. He could take the simplest ingredients and make the most delicious meal. He had a passion for spice. He loved the food “hotter” then most so he kept the dishes milder so others enjoyed them too.
He had no problem sacrificing his time in assisting with the care of his grandparents, Nanny and Papa, as they were the love of his life. He loved being there for them to assist with anything they needed. He is now in heaven with his Nanny giving her love and care.
The three “Don’s” (Donald III, his Dad and his Papa) had a tradition of eating breakfast every Sunday morning. They loved to adventure to new restaurants both in North Carolina and Virginia to discover “specials” and interesting meals. This was a treasured time for them as they got together and shared their thoughts and ideas.
Donald III was a true Christian and loved the Lord with all his heart. He loved the activities that Saint John’s Baptist Church had to offer to him growing up. They truly made him into the man he was until the end. The opportunities of being in Vacation Bible School and the teachings in the Bible were truly learning experiences for him. He LOVED the Youth Group and the mission trips that he was able to participate in for Venezuela, Wales, Virginia, South Carolina, and numerous other local areas where help was needed. This was his passion of helping others and this provided a wonderful opportunity for him to fulfill this passion. He truly had wonderful Sunday School teachers, deacons, and members that help to nurture him with his Christian growth. Our family will be forever grateful for this gift from the church.
Donald III would want everyone he loved and knew to celebrate his life and continue to live their life. He would want everyone to love the Lord and always to look for the good in others along be willing to help others in their time of need.
Our family would like to thank everyone for their love, hugs, food, flowers, thoughts, and prayers during this difficult time. We rejoice in knowing that our precious son and brother, Donald III, is with the Lord rejoicing in his heavenly home and with his family preceding him.
Rejoice in his life and continue to love your family and friends. Always hug your family every day with no negative thoughts and truly love them as life on earth is temporary and God chooses the time to bring us home to heaven when we least expect. Donald III will be there when our time is chosen to embrace and love us when we’re all reunited.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to St. John’s Baptist Church or the International Mission Board (www.imb.org).
Our family would like to extend an enormous “Thank you” to the Family Choice Funerals & Cremations for their personal and respectful way they handled our and Donald III’s needs. The whole experience was very caring and understanding to grant the wishes for Donald III.
Please share a favorite memory of Donald via the Condolences and Tributes tab.
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April 7th is a life changer; you lost a piece of your heart that day that will never be replaced. Hold your memories of Donald Close to you and share them with each other. Reach out to your friends for support. We feel helpless and want so much to take that horrible pain away, even if it is only for a millisecond. My heart is heavy for the Brinkley family; you are all in my prayers.
Since Monday morning, wonderful memories have come to my mind we shared together during so many youth activities. The fun times and the serious times. The training for missions and the mission trips, which always proved to each of us how blessed we are to be able to help and give to others. The youth meetings, Bible Studies, Sunday School and worship and Donald was always there. The fun and learning that we had on Youth Retreats, Red Pumpkin Hunts, Youth Lock Ins, Youth Evangelism Conferences and Centrifuge. Times like these that you share with someone as special as Donald are some of the best times. So many, many wonderful memories to hold on to during these difficult days. I love him for the sweet, giving, loving, generous and Christian young man Donald was and am so blessed to have been able to be part of his life, if only for a little while. Donald is in heaven with God and of that, I have no doubt. In our lives we are given opportunities to be in the presence of beautiful people. Donald is one of those. Words will never express the pain that your family is going through but please know that each of you (Don, Cheryl, Christy and Candice) are in my thoughts and prayers and that I love you all.
Since I got the news there hasnt really been a single moment that I haven’t thought of you guy’s. As I sit here now and think of all the times we had spent together riding the little 100 around the yard, getting into thing’s in the swamp, getting tricked into eatting peas like they where pill’s. All I can think of is how lucky I was to be part if your family. the bond I had with Don at that point of life was one of my first real friendship’s. the type that you have each other’s back no matter what. camping trip’s, youth trips, all the time’s I got to spend with your family as like I was part of it will always be important to me. I am always going to be there for you guys. We are sending our prayer’s everyday for the Lord to keep his arm’s around you thru this dark time. I will always remember the good time’s in life we shared.
I have so many great memories of Donald in my time working with the St. John’s youth group, and even before that time. The Donald I had come to know was a Kind, sweet, sensitive soul; brilliantly smart, and wise beyond his years. I remember working together on the same team on one of our mission trips, he proved to be one of the biggest encouragements on that trip. The days were long and hard, and he just kept going strong all day, often breaking the monotony of the tasks with his witty humor. I was technically the “adult” on the trip, but remember considering him a “peer”, and his heart and hard work were worthy of much greater compliments.
Even though the military had moved our family around, I have often reminisced on my time with all of the youth, but my memories of you are now treasured just little more, held a little more dear to my heart, and are so much more bittersweet.
I know you are in the arms of our Savior, but yet my heart is breaking for your family, your friends and loved ones, who’s lives will forever be missing that piece you held of their heart.
Don & Cheryl,
No words can express my dearest, deepest sympathy. I wish ever so much I could be there on Friday, however, it looks as though I most likely will not make it. Please know that I am praying and thinking of you and Christy and Candice. I mourn with you this precious life taken way too soon. I also celebrate the wonderful person he was during his years with you (us) on earth.
In Sympathy and Love,
Beth
I grew up with Donald. We new each other as little babies. We had some great times together. I remember the Easter parties that we used to have at our house. Decorating cookies or whatever craft our mom’s had planned while all the dads hid eggs in the yard. I will miss him.
Donald was a big part of my oldest sons life when we lived in Viriginia Beach, thank you for share your life and family with Jeff, being a military family having great friends and family who are there for you why your spouse is gone for 6 months is the best thing. Jeff had a place to go hang and be part of a great family. He would come home and tell me about the things him and Donald did, like hiking through the swamp and canoeing on the waterway out there. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Brinkley family.
I am a long friend of the Brinkley family and I am very sad to learn of their loss. May God bring them comfort and peace during this time.
From our family at home, and from our Big E Family at the shipyard, we are so sorry to hear of this great loss for you and your family. Know that we are thinking of you and praying for you.
So many fond memories of the Brinkley family from our time in Va Beach and SJBC. I recall going on many youth trips and other youth activities with Donald and can see his smiling face. A very smart and thoughtful young man, Donald will be remembered as a great person with a great sense of humor. Though we moved away more than 10 years ago, we have thought of our friends often. Don, Cheryl, Christy and Candice, we are heartbroken over this and ya’ll are in our thoughts and prayers.
I am so very sorry for your loss. You all are in my thoughts and prayers daily, and I pray that the happy memories will comfort you during this difficult time.
I went to high school with Don and was very sad to hear the news of his passing. He was a great guy and I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet him.