Donnie Lee Campbell, 84, of Charlotte, Arkansas, passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
He was born March 28, 1941, in Indianola, Mississippi, to John Dee Campbell and Hazel (Salley) Campbell.
Don married Elah Campbell (Jennings) on November 24, 1960. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Batesville and loved camping, family gatherings, and attending sports functions to watch his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He and Elah moved to the Memphis area early in their marriage and raised Laura and Denise in West Memphis. Don was a prankster and loved to tell spooky stories around the campfire at night with his brother, John, and scare all the cousins. He and Elah loved Elvis and attended many concerts, taking the girls with them. He was an avid John Wayne fan and spent many Saturday nights with his family watching the Duke on TV.
Camping was one of the things he enjoyed most; with the family taking camping trips to Florida every summer to go to the beach, and go crabbing, boating, and taking numerous trips all year round to area campgrounds and parks with his brother and family and best friends, Ben and Wanda Chappell and their children, Denise and Darren.
Don was a hard worker, starting as a Property Manager for Guaranty Loan in West Memphis and eventually owning his own business called DELS Management in honor of his family (Don, Elah, Laura and Sharon (Denise)). He was the Director of Environmental Services for LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee and closed out his career as a Sheriff’s Deputy for Crittenden County, Arkansas.
Survivors include his wife, Elah (Jennings) Campbell; two daughters, Laura Palese (TJ), Denise Arms (Kevin); one sister, Gwen Edris (Earl); four grandchildren, Nicholas Palese (Baylee), Jacob Palese (Liz), Michael Palese (Libby), and Bella Arms, and seven great-grandchildren; Reed, Samuel, Joel, Emilia, Zachary, Noah, and Logan.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John Dee Campbell, Jr.
Pallbearers are Nicholas Palese, Jacob Palese, Michael Palese, Bella Arms, Ben Chappell, TJ Palese, and Kevin Arms.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Roller-Crouch Funeral Home at 10:00 am with Stacy Reed officiating. Burial will follow at Carlisle Cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made in his honor to First Baptist Church Building Fund, 610 E Main St, Batesville, AR 72501 or online at fbcbatesville.org/give.
