Homegoing services for Ina Mae Bolton McDonald were Tuesday, Aug. 13, at Fountain of Life Pentecostal Church, Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Visitation was from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m..
Ina’s nephew, Rev. Gordon Simmons, and Rev. Matthew Pagels officiated the services. Burial followed in Oak Grove Methodist Church Cemetery, in the Oak Grove Community, Natchitoches, LA.
Ina Mae, or “Iney”, as she was lovingly called by those who knew and loved her, and was the fourth of five children born to John and Sylvia Mae Sober Bolton, on Sept, 16, 1943.
She was raised in Provencal, LA and attended Provencal Pentecostal Church as a girl, accepting Jesus at a young age. She would later meet the love of her life Curtis “Roy” McDonald. They married on Dec. 17, 1960. With this marriage came two sons, Keith or Keithie as she lovingly called him, and Jeffery Dale.
She watched her last sunrise on Aug.10, 2024, with her son, Keith holding her hand as she closed her eyes and opened them to her first sunrise at Jesus’ feet.
Ina and Roy were blessed with 63 years of love filled marriage. They were also blessed with two grandchildren, Cherie and Justin. Then later with four great grandchildren, Austin, Katelyn, Natalie and Landin.
Ina Mae was called by many names, Mama, Mamaw, Aunt Iney, Iney Mae and Pastor’s wife. Ina could be described in many ways. She was feisty, loving, compassionate, nurturing and spunky. She showed her love by picking, poking, pinching and rough housing. The “meaner” she was to you the more you knew she loved you. She was the definition of tough love.
She was a firm believer that feeding and cooking for her family was not a job but a joy. When a baby was born into the family you can bet that they got their first taste of table food from Aunt Iney. She thought it was her job to make sure that she was the first to feed them. This is something that she has lovingly passed on to others in the family.
Ina was always up to something. When you saw that sheepish grin, you knew that someone was about to get it. She passed that on to both her sons who love to pick as much as she did.
As a pastor’s wife, Ina served in many capacities over the years of her and her husband’s ministry, such as Sunday morning services at local nursing homes. She would play her accordion while her husband, Rev. Roy McDonald, led the singing during the worship services.
She and her family were able to travel to Africa and serve as missionaries, while her brother, Rev. Denzel Bolton, was serving there. They served many churches over the years throughout the state of Louisiana, including churches in Natchitoches Parish, Sabine Parish, Bienville Parish and Winn Parish.
Ina never shied away from telling you about her Jesus and what He could do for you. Ina would pray for you and with you and instilled in her family that this world is not our home. That through His gift of salvation, we would reach our heavenly home.
Ina was preceded in death by her parents John and Sylvie Mae Sober Bolton; brothers, Denzel Bolton; Elton Bolton (Judy Marie); John Bolton (Judy Ruth); nephews, Archie Bolton and Kenneth Brian; nieces, Marshelle Bolton Dotson and Julia Beth Kendall. Her in-laws, Curtis and Dorothy McDonald, sisters-nlaw, LaVelle McDonald Cocheran, LaVerne McDonald Foster, Gladys Faye McDonald and Kathryn S. McDonald.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 63 years, Curtis “Roy” McDonald, and two sons Keith and wife Marla McDonald of Natchitoches; son Jeffery Dale McDonald of Natchitoches; grandchildren Cherie McDonald Eason (Greg) of Marthaville and Justin McDonald (Kimberly) of Natchitoches. Her four great grandchildren that she spoiled with every ounce of her being, Austin Eason; Katelyn McDonald; Natalie Eason and Landin McDonald. She is also survived by her sister, Etty Bolton Simmons (Bobby) of Noble, LA; her brothers-n-law, Rev. Jimmy McDonald of Provencal and Wiley Cocheran of Cement, OK. As well as numerous nieces and nephews that lovingly called her “Aunt Iney”.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers were her grandson, Justin McDonald; great-grandsons, Austin Eason and Landin McDonald; her nephews Darrell Simmons and Ivan Bolton and Keith Wilson, best friend of her son Keith. Those honored to serve as honorary pallbearers were her nephews, Walter “Walt-Walt” Bolton, Wallace McDonald, Stanley Brian, Nathan Simmons, Eddie “Clyde Edgar” McDonald, Kelvin Bolton, Burton McDonald and Brian Bolton.
The family would like to thank the Courtyard of Natchitoches for the love and care that was provided to Ina and her family during