Mary Fleming Young-Mallini

Mary Ma ”Donna” Young-Mallini, 79 years old, passed in her sleep on Sunday, May 26th 2024. Her last days were spent with close friends and family either at her home or out and about. Saturday, May 25th, 2024, Donna attended a wedding and spoke of dancing and meeting new and old friends and was very excited about it.

Donna was born on November, 4th, 1944, to Edwin and Mary Fleming of Natchez, MS and was the oldest of six children. She graduated high school in 1963, one year later than she was supposed to because of a broken leg that kept her from school at a younger age. She worked as a telephone operator and pediatric nurses aid before marrying Ronald “Doc or Ronnie” Young of Natchez, MS who worked as a Mississippi Welfare Investigator for 32 years. The couple had four children, one of which unfortunately died of A plastic anemia at the age of twelve on July 4, 1981.

As the children grew, Donna worked part-time with different jobs, even at a prison as an agricultural teacher. Yet, she finally realized that her passion was actually working with the earth, plants and designing beautiful landscapes. By the time Mandy was in high school, Donna started her venture in horticulture and landscape design in college. She graduated with flying colors and began her own business, Young’s Landscaping. Working and making flower gardens and designs for homes and businesses appear colorful, peaceful and appealing was a task that Donna did with excitement and vigor. She sometimes worked from dusk til dawn on those gardens and her designs and received high praise and approval for a job well done.

Donna lost her first husband, Ronnie, of 35 years to lung cancer in 2002 then married James in 2005 in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which took James’ home in Bay Saint Louis, MS. 

Undaunted, the newly married couple set out designing and having their dream home built. When James, who also died of lung cancer on August 31, 2014, Donna decided to stay in Bay Saint Louis and was joined by her daughter and granddaughter, ‘Mandy and Caraline’.

From 2008 to 2017, Donna survived myoblastic leukemia and breast cancer. She was a petite woman at 4’11” but lost some of her height and was about 4’8” when she passed. Donna’s petite stature and her many trials and illnesses did not keep her down for long, she absolutely refused to let it. She was known as ‘superwoman’ to her kids, family, friends and employers. Anyone that knew her, knew she was strong willed and had strong faith! She never met a stranger and she always had a smile to share. Donna enjoyed celebrating the Christian holidays with family, friends and even neighbors and loved giving parties. She loved music and dancing and was always ready to ‘shake a leg’ even on her bad days. She was a beloved wife and mother and will be missed by so many. 

In her later years, she always talked of making sure her garden and yard was ready for the Lord when He came to visit. Redbirds for her were a sign of hope, love and happiness. She loved to listen to the birds and watch them on the feeders. The frog was a longtime symbol for her as well, reminding her of faith, strength and possibilities. Things like these meant a lot to her. She used the acronym for the frog; “Forever Relying on God.”

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald "Doc or Ronnie" Young of Natchez, MS; husband, James L. Mallini of Bay St. Louis, MS; parents, Edwin W. and Mary F. Cranfield Fleming; daughter, Margaret C. Young; grandchildren, Jay F. and Colin G. Sanford; sisters, Gloria G. Landrum of Pascagoula, MS; and brother, John W. Fleming of Natchez, MS.

She is survived by children, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald P. S. Vesla Young of Odenville, AL, Mr. and Mrs. Brandon and Natalie Hollenbeck of Gillette, WY, and Ms. Effie "Mandy" Y. Sanford of Bay St. Louis, MS; granchildren, Nickolas and Aleece Hollenbeck, Kalysta Young, Joshua Hollenbeck, Caraline Sanford, Caitlyn Young, Logan Lockte, Caden Young, Wyatt Lochte, Everett Lochte, and Theophania Hollenbeck; great-grandchild, Draeden Young; sisters, Sheila Staggs of Texas, Billie Rose Harris of Louisburg, NC, Clista Carroll, of Pascagoula, AR, and Debbie Fleming (John) of Natchez, MS; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Services will be held at Edmond Fahey Funeral Home in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi on Saturday, June 22, 2024. Visitation from 11:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m.