Celebrating The Life & The Love of Stephanie Lynn McDonald

Stephanie Lynn McDonald was born January 13 1990, in Dallas, Texas, to the parentage of Sherralyn “Lynn” and Steve McDonald. She was christened as an infant at Holy Cross Church, where she was active in the dance ministry since the age of four with her debut performance at the Unity Explosion in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was also a member of the Team for Christ Youth Ministry and youth lector. She recently joined Friendship-West Baptist Church.

As a child, she attended St. Philips School and various schools in the Dallas Independent School District. She graduated high school from Lincoln Humanities and Communications Magnet, where she was class historian and a member of the debate team, Rotary Club, Purple Flash Drill Team, and Encounter Community Service Organization. During her junior and senior year, she participated in the North Texas Business and Professional Women’s League Rites of Passage Program in which she engaged in many activities and community service efforts focusing on cultural awareness. She successfully and enthusiastically completed the program which culminated at a symbolic rites of passage ceremony celebrating her crossover into adulthood

After graduation from high school, Stephanie attended Jarvis Christian College and Prairie View A&M University. She had a palpable love for children and she devoted much of her time to children both in her family and in her community. Along with spending time with her family and friends, along with spending time with her family and friends, Stephanie also enjoyed music and writing. Stephanie was preceded in eternity by her aunt, Sheila Howard; great-grandmother, Johnnie Mae Fields; and grandfather, Otis C. Maples.

Stephanie’s spirit continues through her mother, Sherralynn “Lynn” Ferguson; and fathers, Patrick Ferguson and Steve McDonald. Her life is ever-present in her grandparents, Sherry Horace and Floyd and Millie Ferguson. Stephanie is also fondly remembered by her siblings, Evan Ferguson, Raven Ferguson, and Steve McDonald II; godparents, Nicholas S. Howard II and Jacqueline Smith; aunts Sondra Brent, Kym Fisher (Harold) and Stephanie Hawthorne; uncles, Claude O. Maples (Patricia), Charles Maples, James Williams II (Jackie), Jonathan Maples, Corey Maples (Zaneta), Stephen Ferguson and James Hawthorne; significant other, Jonathan Dunn; and a host of cousins and friends.