Sunny Nivens McDonald, of Clarkesville, died Feb. 27, 2010.

She was the beloved wife of Lauren "Bubba" McDonald. Sunny and Bubba were longtime residents of Commerce, Ga.

Born in Gainesville, Ga., she was the daughter of the late Noama Nivens Pugh and Paul Nivens.

Sunny graduated from Gainesville High School, where she was a Red Elephant cheerleader and majorette.

She received a bachelors in elementary education from Brenau College. While at Brenau, she was on the May Court and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational sorority.

A much-loved elementary school teacher, Sunny taught for two years in the Buford City School System and for 28 years in the Commerce City School System. She was a scout leader and worked with the Commerce Downtown Development Authority. She was the "hostess with the mostess" — entertaining for years in her home, brides-to-be, mothers-to-be, governors, representatives and senators (both state and local). Industrial prospects for Jackson County were always welcomed and entertained in her home.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville and The Orchard Golf and Country Club, but she was especially a loving wife, mother and grandmother. "I love you, Mom," was always Lauren's parting message to Sunny.

In addition to her husband of 45 years, Bubba; survivors include, her son, Lauren Wylie (Claire) McDonald III; grandsons, Wylie and Ridley; granddaughter, Hailey; stepfather, William Pugh; sisters, Paula Nivens (Buzzie) Hardy of Commerce, Candy Nivens (Herschel) O'Kelley of Rockmont; brother, Ronald Paul Nivens of Atlanta; various other relatives also survive.

Funeral services were held at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 4 at the Cumming First United Methodist Church. Private interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be made in Sunny's memory to Commerce Presbyterian Church, Mortgage Reduction, P.O. Box 177, Commerce, GA 30529; First Presbyterian Church of Clarkesville, Building Fund, 181 Jefferson Street, Clarkesville, GA 30523; or, Cumming First United Methodist Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 606, Cumming, GA 30028.

McDonald and Son Funeral Home and Crematory of Cumming was in charge of the arrangements.