Reverend Donald Edwin Hanberry, age 90 of Snellville, Georgia was called home to be with the
Lord on Friday, September 29, 2023.
Donald was born on July 28, 1933 in Clyo, Georgia to Henry Theodore and Lottie Belle Porterfield
Hanberry, and educated in Clyo schools. He graduated from Reinhardt and Newberry Colleges. In
1958, he graduated from the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and in 1972 received his
Master of Sacred Theology.
On June 4, 1955 Donald married the love of his life, Dorothy Janet "Jan" Arnsdorff. They were
blessed with four children and married for 68 years.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents Henry Theodore and Lottie Belle Porterfield
Hanberry, Sister N. June Jeffers (Gene) and brothers Henry W. "Billy" and R. Neil Hanberry and
Jack E. Fultz (Charlotte).
He is survived by his loving wife Jan, daughter Candace Rausch (Gerald), and sons Andrew
(Sheri), Randall (Lisa), and Sandford Hanberry. Grandchildren David (Jenni), Daniel (Ashley),
and Diana Rausch, Nicholas (Katelyn), Mackenzie, Madison (Sarah), Alexander, and Natalie
Hanberry. Great grandchildren Hannah, Noah, Peyton, and Carter Rausch, and Sutton Hanberry.
Sisters-in-law Lee Ellen Hanberry, Pam McBride and Cynthia Arnsdorff, brothers-in-law Alton
Gordon (Clara Sue) and Charlie T. Arnsdorff.
Donald was an active Lutheran Minister for 53 years. During that time, he served at 14 churches in
four states. He founded four mission churches including Trinity Lutheran Church in Lilburn that
will celebrate 50 years in December 2023. He retired from active ministry in 2010. Donald was a
President of the Georgia Salzburger Society. He served on the Board of Regents for Newberry
College and was the recipient of a Sesquicentennial Medal of Honor Award in 2006 when Newberry
celebrated its 150th anniversary. He worked on the major gifts campaign and was a donor for
Lutheranch and the MeKanna–Sandrock Retreat Center.
A funeral service to honor the life of Rev. Hanberry will be held on Friday, October 6, 2023 at
11:00 AM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lilburn, Georgia. A graveside service will be held on
Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Clyo, Georgia. The family will receive
friends on Thursday, October 5, 2023 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Tom M. Wages Snellville
Chapel in Snellville, Georgia; on Friday, October 6, 2023 from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM at Trinity
Lutheran Church prior to the funeral service; and on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 10:00 AM
until 11:00 AM at Wingard Memorial Lutheran Church in Clyo, Georgia prior to the graveside
service.
Donald supported a Newberry College Scholarship; the family asks that you consider a donation to
the Rev. Donald E. and Janet Arnsdorff Hanberry Endowed Scholarship at Newberry College at
www.newberry.edu/giving/givenow or by calling 803-321-5363. Flowers can sent to the funeral
home.
Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral
Service, A Family Company, 3705 Highway 78 West, Snellville, Georgia 30039 (770-979-3200) has
been entrusted with the arrangements.