Birth date: Aug 26, 1966 Death date: May 11, 2019
Donna Hayden Lyles, 52, of Fayetteville passed away peacefully Saturday, May 11, 2019. She was born August 26, 1966 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Wendell and Norma Lennox Hayden. She graduated salutatorian from Pine Bluff High School Read Obituary
Donna was my lawyer through a very difficult divorce and child custody case. I’ve never felt more cared about by a lawyer, but more importantly she allowed me to feel like a friend. It was more than just a job to her. Her family was everything to her , we always talked at length about them when we ran into one another. She was the kind of shining light our world needs more of.
Donna was my attorney for my divorce. Donna was fair to myself and to my ex-spouse. I recommend her to several of my friends and she represented them with the same standards of fairness and professionalism. She had the most beautiful smile. Gone way too soon… Valerie
I am so saddened to hear about Donna. I have not seen her in years but I will always remember her kind spirit. I never heard her say an unkind word or be anything but upbeat and loving.
Betsy Meacham
I met Donna decades ago in high school.
She possessed a warm smile, friendliness and a great personality. She was exceptional - smart, committed, and accomplished; combining all those qualities effortlessly, while everyone struggled to balance or even develop them. She was in her senior year and a veteran year back staffer; and i was a year behind her. Seeing her in the staff room in fifth period, was one of the few reasons I made the effort to attend school.
Over the year, she impressed me as I saw how strong her friendships were with Cathy and Marie, how she related to everyone she met. Her sense of humor and wit were mature and well developed. I didn't recognize it then, but she left a strong impression on me and influenced me (in my delayed maturation). She was a role model, an example for the rest of us to aspire to be more like. It might be cliche, but she made the world a better place.
It is 33 years since I saw her last. We might have traded posts on facebook 2-3 times since then. Obviously we weren't close, but I sad with her passing, as I am confident that she inspired many people and was very meaningful to those of you who were close to her. I am very sorry for your loss. I wish I could offer you more. People like Donna are rare, and you were so fortunate to have shared your lives with her.
It's weird, reading something like this from a someone unknown to you, but many of us recognized Donna as remarkable and inspiring. We don't share our gratitude and admiration for people like Donna.They are rare but remarkable people. They pass through life without the recognition they deserve. I hope my note shares the thoughts of the thousands of others who over the years; shared classes, transactions, meetings, or ordinary or even interactions with Donna, and felt better for having known her. I'm sorry, and I wish you the best. I know you will miss her.
She was an incredible person.
Fred Cosgrove
PBHS Class of 1985
I was unable to attend the service today but memories of Donna keep flooding my mind. I considered her a friend as well as a colleague in the legal community. I think I can speak for the attorneys here in Washington County that she was well respected and will be greatly missed. Donna was an attorney who always was professional and represented her clients well. We could be on opposite sides of a case but remain as friends no matter the outcome. I remember all the great phone conversations we had, hashing out some legal matter or just "venting" about some case that was troublesome.
I was so sad to hear about her cancer diagnosis and all the pain she was suffering. Am glad that is over now. But in the middle of it all she still sent me an email to be sure I knew about some new forms that were coming out that I would need to use in probate cases. That is a selfless person and a person that was putting up a good fight.
My thoughts and prayers are with her family now. I share that huge hole in my heart and just feel comforted by my memories as I hope her family will be.
Mary Green
