Mrs. Donna Boatwright Saffell

A celebration of the life of Mrs. Donna Boatwright Saffell, 74, of Henderson, will be held at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 30, 2024 at First Baptist Church with Dr. David Higgs officiating. The family will receive following the service at the church in the mall area. A private, family burial will be held under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. Mrs. Saffell went home to be with her Lord on May 26, 2024, in a Tyler hospital. She was born June 21, 1949, in Tyler to the late Lloyd L. and Joyce (Green) Boatwright. Donna lived most all of her life in Henderson and was a 1967 graduate of Gaston/West Rusk High School. She would go on to become a dispatcher and administrative secretary, as well as a 911 operator, for the Rusk County Sheriff’s Department from which she later retired. Mrs. Saffell had also worked as the Assistant Veteran’s Service Officer for Rusk County. She was twice awarded the Silent Hero Award from the state of Texas for her dedication and hard work. She truly enjoyed serving and helping others, especially veterans. Donna was the epitome of a devoted mother and deeply loved and cared for her son, Chad. Their bond was truly something special. The way she cared for Chad in turn taught him how to be a devoted son, honoring his father and mother and arising to call her blessed as it tells us in Proverbs 31:28. Mrs. Saffell was also a long-time member of First Baptist Church of Henderson, and was a very devout Christian. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Dewayne Saffell, sister Connie Boatwright Conner, and grandparents Roy E. and Amanda Green. and Myrtle Boatwright Chapman. Survivors include her son, Chad Boatwright of Henderson; siblings, Don Boatwright and wife Carolyn E., Bon Boatwright and wife Tami, and Ronnie Roy Boatwright and wife Janet, all of Henderson; brothers-in-law, Gary Lee Conner of Canon City, Colorado, and Robert Saffell of Flint; nieces and nephews, Melissa Biggs and husband Brett, Brook Arrington and the late Wes Arrington, Michael Dale Conner and wife Lindsey, David Lloyd Conner, Jeremy Boatwright, and Adam Boatwright; and a host of great-nieces and nephews, many cousins and friends. The family would like to say a special word of thanks to William and Sheila Floyd for their kindness to and loving care of Donna Honorary pallbearers will be Burr Conway, Tim Moody, Caleb Nolan, Brett Rogas, Jay Abercrombie, Kenneth Orr, Chris Dunn, and Terry Everitt. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to any veterans organization, the Rusk County Veterans Service Office c/o Rusk County Veterans Monument Association at 115 N. Main St., Ste. 100-B Courthouse, Henderson, TX 75652, or the Henderson Animal Center at 1201 Highland Drive, Henderson, TX 75652. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mrs. Donna Boatwright Saffell

June 21, 1949 - May 26, 2024