03/21/2026
Donna Jean (Watkins) Bibb, age 74, of Oak Hill, West Virginia, went home to be with the Lord on March 17, 2026, at 6:15 a.m. She was born on November 14, 1951, in Beckley, West Virginia.
Donna is known far and wide by one name — Nana. That name meant everything to her, because the greatest joys in her life were her granddaughters and great-granddaughters. Being Nana wasn’t just something she was called; it was who she was. It was in the way she loved, the way she showed up, and the way she made every person around her feel like they mattered.
Nana was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend, and above all, a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. She was a longtime member of Oak Hill Gospel Tabernacle, where she found strength, community, and purpose. She believed deeply in love, grace, and taking care of others, and she carried those values into every part of her life.
She spent many years working as a Postal Clerk at the Minden Post Office, as well as at other post office locations throughout southern West Virginia. She took pride in her work and in serving her community, and she formed countless friendships along the way. Nana never met a stranger — just people she hadn’t talked to yet.
Nana had a heart of gold and a mind full of opinions, and if you knew her, you knew she wasn’t shy about sharing them. She had a way of telling you exactly what she thought, but always from a place of love. She was the kind of person people leaned on, and the kind of person who never let you face anything alone.
She found joy in life’s simple, everyday moments. You could often find her watching Family Feud, playing Wordscapes, tending to her garden, crocheting something for someone she loved, or baking cakes. But if you knew Nana, you knew her sweet tea. It was so good that people would drive miles just to sit a while and have a glass.
Some of Nana’s most cherished memories were made right at home — sitting on her porch in the summer, listening to the Beatles, Don Henley, and Conway Twitty, laughing with family, dancing along to Doo W*p Saturday Nights, and cheering on her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at every event she could possibly attend. If you were there, Nana was your biggest supporter.
Nana was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Bibb, Sr.; her parents, Virginia and Orville Watkins; her brother, Michael Watkins; her brother-in-law, Wayne Conner; her son-in-law, Lee Shaver; and her niece, Nancy Conner.
Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Lee (Molly) Bibb; her daughter, Shelli (Robby) Pauley; her granddaughters, Mikaela (Jordan) Adkins and Virginia Pauley; her great-granddaughters, Emmalee and Kinsey Adkins; her sisters, Sheila (Larry) Sheaves and Sharon Conner; her brother, Dale (Wanda) Watkins; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
Nana loved her life, and she loved the people in it even more. She was selfless, deeply loved, a little stubborn in the best way, and fiercely devoted to her family. She believed in showing up, in loving hard, in speaking her mind, and in keeping faith through every season of life.
If Nana were here to tell us anything, it would be simple: love each other, take care of your family, keep your faith, and don’t forget to laugh along the way.
That’s exactly how she lived her life.
And while our time with her here feels far too short, Nana held tightly to a faith that reminds us of something greater: “As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”
1 Peter 1:24-25 NLT
Nana believed that promise. She lived by it. And now, she rests in it.
Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on March 21, 2026, at Oak Hill Gospel Tabernacle with Pastor Sonny Craft officiating. Graveside rites will follow at High Lawn Memorial Park.
Friends may visit with Nana’s family from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church.
Pallbearers will be Lee Bibb, Jordan Adkins, Robby Pauley, Barry Bailey, Nathan Galeana, and Patrick Erickson.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.highlawnfuneralhome.com.
