Phyllis Kay (Lewis) Donahue, age 88, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at Hilton Head Hospital.

 

Family, Education and Career:

Phyllis was born on April 22, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Isaac Bruce and Madelon (Wallis) Lewis. She grew up alongside her older brother, Wallis Bruce Lewis. During World War II, her family relocated to Arlington, Virginia, and after the war settled on Long Island, where Phyllis lived until her marriage in 1961.

She graduated from Wagner College and Hofstra University, earning a Bachelor of Arts and a Master’s degree in education. Phyllis devoted many years to education, teaching social studies and serving as Director of the Drama Program at New Hyde Memorial High School on Long Island. Over her lifetime, she also worked as an insurance claims adjuster and a realtor. Above all, she cherished her roles as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

 

Phyllis met the love of her life, Thomas James Donahue, at Kelly’s Tavern in Neptune City, New Jersey, during her summer school break. They were married on August 11, 1961. After living briefly in Long Branch, New Jersey, they purchased their home in Neptune in 1964, where they raised their family and lived until 2006. They later moved to Odenton, Maryland, to be closer to their daughter Kate. Following Tom’s passing in 2015, after 53 years of marriage, Phyllis remained there until moving to Hilton Head Island in 2023 to be nearer to her children.

 

Phyllis is survived by:

Children: Anne (David) Eberhart; Paul (Janel) Donahue; Kathryn (John) Costello

Grandchildren: David (Maria) Eberhart; Kathryn (Alec) Morris; Taylor (Kyle) Baker; Corey Donahue; McKenna Donahue; Diana Costello; Abigail Costello; Olivia Costello

Great-grandchildren: Luca Baker; Nora Baker; Nina Baker and Weston Morris.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, and her husband, Thomas.

 

A Life of Service and Faith:

 Phyllis was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a loyal and caring friend. She was known as an organizer, teacher, leader, and gracious hostess. Her many roles included Girl Scout leader, softball and basketball coach, AAUW member, election official, PTA president, and co-director of the Neptune Girls Soccer League. Her faith was central to her life. At Atonement Lutheran Church in Asbury Park, New Jersey, she served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, choir member, food pantry director, and Church Council member. She faithfully ensured her children attended church each week, instilling in them the importance of God and the love of Jesus. As one friend remarked, “She shared Jesus with hundreds of kids over the years.”

 

Remembering Phyllis:

Phyllis embraced life with enthusiasm and curiosity. She loved traveling the world, reading a wonderful novel, watching Masterpiece Theatre and BritBox mysteries, enjoying a good meal topped off with a chocolate dessert, and—most of all—playing bridge. The friendships and challenges of the game brought her immense joy, and her family imagines her being “truly in heaven,” playing with the angels. She opened her home and heart to many of her children’s friends, neighbors, and even strangers in need. Often described as “another mother,” she made everyone feel welcome in her home. Many memories were made at her kitchen table while eating her cookies out of her famous cookie tins or playing games in the family room. A lover of conversation and history, she was always ready to share her opinions or offer an impromptu history lesson.  Simply put, Phyllis was “Phyllis”, and her love, care, and generosity enriched the lives of all who knew her.

 

Phyllis  especially treasured time spent with family and friends at Avon-by-the-Sea, sharing beach days and Vic’s pizza. She will be laid to rest with her husband in the Atlantic Ocean, near the Belmar Inlet close to her beloved Lincoln Avenue beach chair spot.

 

Services:

A small memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

Hilton Head Church of Christ 23 Bow Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Pastor Fred McClure will officiate. Refreshments will be served following the service.

There will be no official viewing or burial.

 

The service will be livestreamed via the Rumble app (search Hilton Head Church of Christ).

 

A celebration of life will be held in New Jersey in late summer or fall. Details will be shared at a

later date.

 

In Lieu of Flowers

Donations may be made in Phyllis’s memory to the Face to Face Foundation (https://

face2facenc.com/about/), which supports children born with craniofacial differences. Their website includes an introductory video featuring Phyllis’s great-grandson, Weston.