GEORGIA BAPTIST COLLEGE OF NURSING OF MERCER UNIVERSITY
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY -CELEBRATING 100 YEARS FOR BOOTS DONALSON, CLASS OF 1933
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n Saturday, March 5, at the Pell City, Alabama Civic Center, friends and family gathered to celebrate the 100th birthday of Almeda “Boots” Hines Fincher Donalson. “Boots,” as she is known by her friends, was born March 3, 1911, in Decatur County, Georgia. She received her nursing education at Georgia Baptist School of Nursing, graduating in 1933. She worked as a private duty nurse, employed at the Fort McPherson Army Base, and served as nurse for Dr. Equin, an Ear, Eye, Nose, and Throat specialist in Atlanta. On 15 August 1936, Boots married James Travis Fincher, Jr. The couple moved from Atlanta to Birmingham in 1942, where they lived for almost 30 years. After James’ death, Boots married Major General John M. Donalson in 1975. Since the death of Gen. Donalson in 1987, Boots made her home in Cropwell, AL until she moved to Assisted Living at the Village at Cook Springs in March 2010. The birthday celebration for Boots was hosted by her children, Ray and Nancy Fincher of Cook Springs, Jack and Rita Fincher of Pell City, and Dan and Linda Fincher Wood of Birmingham. Her seven grandchildren and their spouses, and her four great grandchildren were in attendance along with relatives and friends from Alabama, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and South Carolina. As a surprise for Boots, in lieu of gifts, guests were invited to make a donation to Georgia Baptist College of Nursing to be used for a deserving student needing financial assistance. The generosity of Boots’ friends and family will result in a scholarship award for a 2011 Fall Semester student.