Rev. Donald Gradney
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Donald James Gradney was born May 29, 1938, in Port Arthur, Texas to his parents Lee
Gradney and Dorothy Taylor Gradney. Donald was baptized at an early age at Sixth Street
Baptist Church under Pastor U.S. Kelling Jr. Donald graduated from Lincoln High School in
1957 and went on to complete a Bachelor's of Science in Agricultural Economics at Southern
University, Baton Rouge, LA (1962). While at Southern, Donald was drafted into the United
States Army as a medic. He went on to complete a Masters in Economics at Prairie View A&M
University, Prairie View, TX (1965). While at Prairie View, he met and married Hannah LuGenia
Jackson. From this marriage, they had two children, Leland Sanders Andre and Aprille Dawn
LuGenia.
Donald began his teaching career at Langston University (1965-1970), where he taught
in the Agriculture Department and was also Assistant Director of the Student Union. During his
time at Langston, he was ordained to preach the Gospel under the leadership of Rev. Earl
Jennings Perry at Tabernacle Baptist Church, Oklahoma City, OK. He also worked as the
Director of Christian Education for the Oklahoma Baptist General Convention (1972-1976). He
continued active duty service in the U.S. Army Reserves as a Personnel Administrator serving
at several duty stations before retiring at Fort Sill in 1996.
Donald married Nell Rose Antoine on December 21, 1982. In 1989, they moved to
Lawton, OK and joined the Bethlehem Baptist Church by letter under Rev. J.D. Phillips, Pastor
where they were dedicated and faithful members. An Associate Minister of Bethlehem Baptist
Church, Rev. Gradney has served as Director of Baptist Training Union, President of the
Brotherhood, The Salt Ministry, and was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.
Donald continued working as an educator both in public institutions and also in Christian
ministry. He was a certified instructor of Christian Education for the Western District, National
Baptist Convention. He also worked as the Director of Christian Education at Westminister
Presbyterian Church, Lawton, OK (2000-2005). He had many community involvements
including Lawton City-Wide Brotherhood, Lawton Interdenominational Ministers Alliance,
Cameron Campus Ministries, Great Plains Improvement Foundation and the NAACP, to name a
few. He served as a volunteer Chaplain for Southwest Medical Center and Chaplain at Lawton
Correctional Facility.
Rev. Donald Gradney was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, ?Nathan,
Leroy, and Richard and one sister Patricia Guidry. He leaves to cherish his memory, one son
Leland Gradney (Yolonda) of Lawton, OK, one daughter Aprille Dawn Gradney of Guthrie, OK,
and one stepdaughter Nicole Allen-Fisher (Jason) of Oklahoma City, OK. Three brothers?
Herman (Connie) Gradney of Beaumont, TX, Walter Gradney of Port Arthur, TX, Kenneth Nolan
Gradney of Anahuac, TX. Two sisters Geraldine Robinson of Port Arthur, TX, and Lois Green of
Port Arthur, TX. Four grandchildren, Talor Dawn Gradney, Janel Kyllene Andrews, Lazaveon
Charles Gradney, and Jackson Lamar Gradney, and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousin