Aranya Mark Donaldson

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Aranya Mark Donaldson, known affectionately as Mark, on July 10th, 2024. Born on December 26, 1972, in Wiesbaden, Germany, Mark spent his formative years in Wilmington, North Carolina, where he developed a lifelong love for the beach and the ocean.

A graduate of John T. Hoggard High School, Mark was deeply committed to his faith and was an active member of New Life Christian Fellowship. His charisma and genuine nature made him easy to like and impossible to forget, endearing him to all who knew him.

Mark's greatest passion was surfing. In his mid-twenties, he moved to Hawaii, where he spent 18 years as a surf instructor, chasing big waves and living his dream. After leaving Hawaii, Mark joined his family in Florida, allowing the Donaldson family to reconnect with their "Hawaiian" brother. These last years spent together will be cherished forever.

Mark is survived by his two mothers, Sheryl Donaldson, who lovingly raised him, and his biological mother, Gertrude Maria Bach; his brothers, Shyama Donaldson, Serge Donaldson, and Jason Turney; his niece, Sloan Donaldson; and his nephew, Charles Donaldson. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Quitman Donaldson.

A memorial service was held at New Life Christian Fellowship in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

Rest, dear brother. You are now in a place of peace.