Donna Jean (Hines) Adams

Donna Jean (Hines) Adams was born January 26, 1957, to Mary Lou Flack Hines and Harland Wendell Hines, in Ashtabula, OH. She was their second of seven children. She died February 11, 2026, in Pickerington, OH, surrounded by family and close friends gathering near her bedside in worship as she walked through Heaven’s Gates.

Donna met Michael S. Adams at the age of 15 at a youth event in Louisville, OH. Michael says it was love at first sight…all due to a piece of Double Mint Gum. After four years of dating, they were married on December 4, 1976. Together they have three children, Rev Jennifer (Rev. Jedidiah) Brake, Joshua (Melanie) Adams, and Joel (Stacy) Adams. They have cherished being grandparents to their 11 Grandchildren: Matthew, Olivia (Aaron), Gideon, Isaac, Landon, Benjamin, Miranda, Emily, Richard, Clay and Aubrey. Her surviving siblings, whom she loved so very much; Brenda (Steve) Niro, Linda (Dave) Masirovits, Wally (Rose) Hines, Gary (Jennifer) Hines, Daniel (Kim) Hines, Mark (Sherry) Hines. She is preceded in death by her grandparents Tyree & Jesse Flack, Harland and Evelyn Hines, parents Wendell & Mary Lou Hines, in-laws Ira and Martha Adams, granddaughter Abigail, and a great grandson Lucas.

Donna attended and graduated from Jefferson Area High School in 1975. She attended Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado with a certification in Women’s Ministries in 1992. She was an active member of the Church of the Nazarene for many years supporting Michael in Pastoral Ministry in Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, and West Virginia. She had a passion for women’s ministry, Christian education, compassionate ministry, children’s ministry and world missions. Within the last year of life, she was thankful to be a part of the New Zion Global Methodist Church as well as Leipsic Church of the Nazarene.

Donna’s hobbies included: collecting porcelain bells, interior decorating (both at home and at church), traveling, and being in Amish Country. Just in this last week, she told us she was looking forward to disappearing in an Amish Cabin with a fireplace and turning the cell phones off. She loved watching Heartland, the Waltons and Hallmark-like Family Movies because they reminded her of her family.

Donna had an intense love for her children, grandchildren and soon to be great grandson Blake. It was evident to everyone she had a conversation with. She had always been proud of each of her children, their spouses and those loved grandchildren. Some of those grandsons & granddaughters, said they would miss playing tricks on Papa with her (which usually included rubber bands and lots of laughter), being with her in church hearing her sing, and just listening to the many stories she told each of them about her love of Christ, and playing tricks on her own three kids. The fact that she was so immensely proud to be a Christ follower is what will remain with us as we grieve, she was never afraid to tell someone about Jesus, and they knew she loved them because Jesus loved them. Donna was also bold in her conversations, and she never held back the truth in love. We may never meet someone as bold as she could be, but we knew she had the gift of discernment. Every Christmas, when her health was in its prime, she loved writing each family member a Christmas letter. She loved to write out her thoughts on paper, and it was the most treasured gift we all received and will miss tremendously.

A viewing ONLY, will take place for those locally at New Zion Global Methodist Church in Baltimore, OH on Sunday afternoon from 3-5pm. Viewing and Calling Hours will be Tuesday 11am-1pm, Funeral Service at 1pm, at the Jefferson Church of the Nazarene, in Jefferson, OH. Committal following the service at Oakdale Cemetery and funeral dinner for all loved ones in attendance.