Worcester : Dr. Donna E. McKibbens, Ph.D., 73, passed away on Saturday, November 20, 2021 in St. Vincent Hospital . She leaves her husband of 52 years, Rev. Dr. Thomas R. McKibbens; a daughter Katherine B McKibbens of Worcester ; a son George T. McKibbens and his wife Sisi of Quincy, MA; two grandchildren: Tayron and Constance McKibbens of Quincy; and a sister Marjo Wells of Lubbock , TX .
Donna was born in Jackson , MS , daughter of the late Allan T. and Marjorie Mahaffey Edwards. She earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Mississippi in 1970, her Master's Degree in Child Development from Tufts University in 1984, and her Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Science from Tufts University in 1993. From 1993 until retirement in 2015 she served Wheelock College in Boston in a variety of teaching and administrative positions. She taught courses in History and Philosophy of Early Childhood or Elementary Education, Learning and Teaching U.S. American History, and Meeting Teaching Needs of Elementary Students She served as Director of Educator Certification/Licensure, Coordinator for Wheelock College's membership in the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), a member of the NCATE Board of Examiners, and in the last years before retirement she served as Associate Dean of Education at Wheelock College. She was honored by the Massachusetts Association of Colleges for Teacher Education as the 2016 Friend of Education.
A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 12:00 noon in Rural Cemetery . There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church at a later date. Nordgren Memorial Chapel 300 Lincoln St. Worcester is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations in Donna's memory may be made to First Baptist Church. To leave an online condolence message, please click guestbook link.