Life Tribute Professionals
Since 1866, Oakey’s has evolved to meet the ever changing needs of our community. One of these needs, we discovered, is the need to provide the families we serve with a professional celebrant for your loved one’s funeral or memorial service. Many families do not have a church home, but still want to have someone preside over the service. Therefore, Oakey’s is proud to introduce our Life Tribute Professionals who are part of the Oakey’s staff and are available to serve you.
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Our Life Tribute Professionals will meet with you in order to learn all they can about your loved one, enabling them to provide a unique and personal tribute to the life of your friend or loved one.
To arrange a meeting with one of our Life Tribute Professionals (below), please call 540.982.2100.
Donna Britt
Life Tribute Professional
Donna Hopkins Britt was born in Roanoke and grew up in Central Virginia. She graduated from George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia. Donna completed her formal education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia and Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond. She served in the ministry for over eighteen years, most recently at Roanoke’s Calvary Baptist Church. Additionally, she has officiated over 150 funerals and memorial services. Donna studied Bowen Family Systems Theory, and is passionate about helping individuals and families find healthy ways to grieve.
Donna currently works for Children’s Trust as an Education Facilitator, teaching child abuse prevention to elementary school students.
Donna is married and has a son and daughter.
Nelson Harris
Life Tribute Professional
Nelson Harris, a native of Roanoke, has been the pastor of Heights Community Church since 1999, previously serving two other churches as minister. He grew up in the church where he currently serves and considers it a privilege to be “back home” with a congregation that has meant so much to him throughout his life. A graduate of Patrick Henry High School, Nelson attended Radford University where he graduated with a degree in Political Science (B.A., cum laude). He then attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina and graduated in December of 1989 (M. Div.). He also completed post-graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and Harvard University. In addition to his pastoral duties, he is an adjunct faculty member at Virginia Western Community College where he teaches in the areas of religion and philosophy. Nelson was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership by Princeton Theological Seminary in 2006. He attended and completed the Counseling Practicum at Virginia Baptist Hospital in Lynchburg, Virginia.