Evelyn Donald Hood

Evelyn Donald Hood was born on April 20, 1956, and passed away on October 18, 2024, from complications of an accidental fall. Donald was born in St. George’s, Grenada and moved with his parents and sisters in October 1964 to the United States. They lived for a brief time in Harlem, then moved to Brooklyn, NY in December 1964.

Donald was an excellent student in academics, music, and athletics, earning a black belt in Karate at age 10 and continued practicing martial arts for many years.  He also played basketball and earned the nickname, “Earl the Pearl.”  He gained admission to the highly competitive Brooklyn Technical High School and graduated in 1974. He was a pre-med student at Brooklyn College and tutored high school students in Downstate Medical Center’s Biomedical Careers program.

As a young adult Donald developed mental illness which interrupted his pursuit of a career in medicine. He persevered throughout life in aspirations to return to Grenada and to become a medical doctor. Donald loved singing and playing the guitar.  He often performed the music of his favorite musician, Bob Marley.

Donald moved from New York to Florida after his parents retired to Spring Hill, Florida over 30 years ago. A day did not pass without Donald speaking with his mother or sisters. He expressed love and gratitude to family, friends, and all who supported him.  Donald lived his faith daily by reading the bible, sharing scripture, and attending church regularly. He remained close to his family over the years, enjoying visits with them, celebrating birthdays, holidays, and other special events. Donald appreciated the Nurse Manager from Dominica, at his last residence in Tampa, and enjoyed the Caribbean dishes she prepared. Donald’s mother and sisters were with him while he received excellent care at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida.

Donald was preceded in death by his father, Donald Bradman Hood, and is survived by his mother, Catherine Nadia Hood; daughter, Darlene; siblings: Dawne, Kathie, June;  brothers-in-law: Stefan Goldberg, Thomas Panzone, Luis Maisonet; nephews and nieces: Angel, Jasmine “Jas”,Tamrin, Alexis, Sara, Ashley, and Andrew; cousins: Dave Hood, Jennifer Pigage, Maureen Derrick, Rory Hood, Dr. Anthony Hood, Michelle Pitts, Dwight Baptiste, Anne Marie Hood, Lucianne Hood Hosten, Peter Hood, and Desmond Hood; aunts: Irma Rowe, Neila Lewis, Norma Forde, uncles: John Hood, Tom Bonaparte, Neil Bonaparte; and many other cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, family and friends.

Donald's family is thankful to family, friends, and The Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams that supported Donald over the past 6 years, especially the Gracepoint FACT team.

In lieu of flowers and trees, please consider making a donation to the Gracepoint Foundation : 

(To make a donation, please copy the address below)

Donation Page:  https://secure.qgiv.com/for/mhcfdgf 

For more information about the foundation, visit: gracepointfoundation.org

We will hold a private Celebration of Life service on Monday, October 28, 2024, at the Nature Coast Botanical Gardens and Nursery in Spring Hill, Florida.

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