Donald Donnie Layton 78 of 866 Mudcreek Road died Thursday May 19 2011 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Donnie was born in Newberry SC on June 10 1932 a son of the late Doc and Gladys Richey Layton. He served over 35 years in the South Carolina National Guard as a Colonel taught and coached at Newberry High School for a number of years and retired as division supervisor of school bus transport from the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Donnie was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Newberry where he served as a former Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Newberry Exchange Club the AARP and the South Carolina State Employees Association. Donnie volunteered countless hours helping others. For over 13 years he was an active volunteer at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital and the School Supply Drive. He taught Sunday School at Jessie Frank Hawkins Nursing Home once a month went on numerous mission trips collected food for food pantries and warm jackets for children and volunteered to help serve Christmas dinner to those in need within the community. Donnie served as a Mentor at the Newberry Learning Center collected humanitarian supplies to send to troops serving in Afghanistan served as a chairman of The Salvation Army Bell Ringers and served on the Mollohon Reunion Committee. He devoted countless hours to the Newberry Chapter of Relay for Life. Donnie received numerous awards including the Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds of 2001 the Exchangite of the year several times including 2010 the SC State Employee Association Outstanding Retiree Award in 2002 and the Newberry Rotary Lay Person of the year in 2002. He was named the 2010 Jake and Mildred Fulmer Humanitarian of the Year by Newberry County Memorial Hospital and in 2011 he was awarded The Order of the Silver Crescent Award by Governor Mark Sanford. Mr. Layton is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years Betty Lou Danielsen Layton; daughter Beth Layton (Wayne) Wicker of Newberry; sons Donald A. (Darlene) Layton of Newberry and R. Kent (Jill) Layton of Greenville; granddaughters Charlene L. (Kyle) Kneece of Prosperity Alanna Layton of Tallahassee FL Kaylyn Wicker of Newberry and Jordan Layton and Destiny Layton of Greenville SC; grandsons Layton Wicker of Newberry and Hayes Layton of Greenville; and great-grandchild Carlie Kneece of Prosperity. He was predeceased by brothers Allen C. Layton and Ray C. Layton and sister Wynonna Terrell Ballentine. Funeral services were conducted at 3:00 PM Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Newberry by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Harmon. Interment did follow at Newberry Memorial Gardens. Visitation was from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Saturday at the Whitaker Funeral Home in Newberry. Active pallbearers were Randy Berry Keith Berry Mark Berry Tim Berry Rodney Danielsen Chris Danielsen and Danny Padgett. Honorary pallbearers were Don Saylor Clarence Livingston Orion Perrell Jim Parks Tommy Fellers David Jenkins Maxie Bailey and the members of the Adelphian-Friendship Sunday School Class. The family suggests memorials be made to the Food Pantry c/o West End Baptist Church 620 Main St. Newberry SC 29108. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com. Whitaker Funeral Home Newberry is assisting the family.