On October 16, 1955, Donna married the love of her life: Marvin Hicks at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. From this union, the couple was blessed with the birth of three children and added one by adoption. While being a new wife and mom, somehow, Donna also found the time to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work, from Eastern Michigan University. To assist in providing for her family, she then gained employment as a social worker for many years.