Funeral services for Donnie Alf Balenger Sr., 62, of Cornelia, were held Saturday, March 6, at Hillside Memorial Chapel in Clarkesville with Bro. Jack Hicks and Bro. Randall Hammonds officiating. Interment followed in Hillside Gardens Cemetery.
Mr. Balenger went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, March 3, 2021.
Born Sept. 10, 1958, in Atlanta, he was the son of the late William “Bill” Balenger and Mary Belle Garner Balenger. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Terry Balenger.
Donnie was raised in Lilburn. He graduated from Berkmar High School where he met and fell in love with Jill. Donnie worked in the family commercial glass business following high school. In 2007, he was ordained as a Baptist preacher. His greatest joy was sharing the gospel with others and often ministered in jails and prisons locally. Donnie pastored Independent Baptist in Cornelia for nearly 10 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and pastor. Donnie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his loving wife of 42 years, Jill Kirves Balenger; daughter, Autumn Balenger Poole and husband, Matthew Poole; son, Donnie “Dusty” Balenger Jr. and wife, Emily Irvin Balenger; brother and sister-in-law, William H. “Hut” Balenger Jr. and Pam Balenger; four grandsons, Hunter Balenger, Irvin Balenger, Hutchings Balenger, and Luke Poole.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests all memorial donations be made to Independent Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1384, Demorest, GA 30535.
An online guest registry is available for the Balenger family at HillsideMemorialChapel.com.
Arrangements were in the care of Hillside Memorial Chapel, Clarkesville.