Donna Elaine Saye Carnley
Donna Elaine Saye Carnley
Donna Elaine Saye Carnley, age 73, went home to be with the Lord on February 26, 2026. Born on January 6, 1953, in DuBois, Pennsylvania, she was the beloved daughter of Rev. David E. and Marilyn (Hollenbaugh) Saye. Donna spent most of her life in Florida, where she built a life centered on faith, family, and service to others.
When Donna was three years old, the Saye family relocated from PA to the Ft. Lauderdale, FL area. Donna graduated from LaBelle High School in 1971 and began working at the Hendry County Courthouse following graduation. In 1973, her family moved to Marianna, FL, where she worked at Jackson Christian School. Donna later served as a teacher at The Independent Chapel Christian School in Marianna.
Donna married Broward Carnley on January 16, 1981, and was a dedicated wife for 34 years until his passing in 2015. While her children were young, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to being a stay-at-home mother, a role she cherished deeply. In the 1990s, she worked with the Health Department in Blountstown as a Clerk Typist II and later faithfully served her community at the One Stop Career Center in Marianna until her retirement in 2014. She married Cecil Carnley in 2019 and remained devoted to him until her passing.
Donna accepted Jesus as her Savior at a young age, and her faith remained the guiding light of her life. She lived with a gentle spirit, a servant’s heart, and a deep trust in God’s promises.
The greatest joy in Donna’s life was her family. She is survived by her children: Jennifer, Rusty, Jason, Candace, and Kevin Carnley. She was a proud grandmother to Andrew, Kelsey (Aaron), Madelyn, Gillian, Chance, Scout, Jenna, Cameron, Dylan, Kaydance, Alec, and Tieran. She was also blessed with five great-grandchildren: Amelia, Noah, Carson, Ava, and Namine’. She is also survived by her siblings: Darlene Tatum, Diane Webb (Wendell), Debbie Barfield, LynnDee Webb (Wayne), David Saye (Becky), Rusty Saye (Annie), Mike Saye (Elly), and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.
Her parents, her husband Broward, her daughter Krystal, her granddaughter Emma, and two brothers-in-law, Ray Tatum and Danny Barfield, precede her in death.
Though her family mourns her passing, they rejoice in the assurance that she now rests in the presence of her Savior.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Monday, March 2, 2026, at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel with Rev. Ben Peters officiating. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel.