The Windrush community in Wales has paid tribute to nurse Donna Campbell, their “beloved sister” , who died on Good Friday after contracting coronavirus.
Remembering how the mother of two loved her family, her work in the community and cooking Jamaican food, they said she had “a beautiful, effervescent personality and a smile that lit up a room”.
Donna, 54, a nurse at Cardiff's Velindre Hospital, was a member of Windrush Cymru Elders. The group and her friends from it came together with, Black History Wales and Race Council Cymru, to pay tribute.
“Donna was a delightful, kind natured, all round wonderful human being who was “selfless, wonderful and bubbly” and is acknowledged as kind-hearted by all who knew her,” they said in a joint memorial.
“Our hearts are broken that she lost her life to Covid-19 whilst doing her job as a healthcare worker.”
Donna, born in 1965, was the eldest child of Lydia and Joslyn Campbell from Port Talbot, who arrived in Wales from Jamaica as part of the Windrush Generation.
Her father and brother Derrick Campbell passed away a few years ago and she is survived by her two children Luicia, 18 and Vinnay, 12, her younger sister Cerys Campbell and her mother.
“She loved and lived for her family and always spoke of them with love and great affection,” the tribute continued.
“Donna was surrounded by her beloved partner and the love of her life Shaun Hall, her daughter Luicia, her son Vinnay, her mum Lydia and her sister Cerys - they were her life.”
Donna, attended Glan Afan Comprehensive School and Sandfields Comprehensive School in Port Talbot and graduated with a BA from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Her friend, Uzo Iwobi, OBE and founder of the Race Council Cymru (RCC), said: “Donna was a member of the Windrush Cymru elders and a strong advocate of race equality, regularly organising awareness events on the issue.
“She was also my dearest sister and friend, and when she visited my home with her children, we would cook Jollof rice, chicken, fried plantains with Jamaican spice buns.
“She loved to laugh through all the challenges she faced, she trusted God and never gave up. Donna was indomitable, indefatigable and fully committed to social justice and equality; she evidenced this through her tireless work as a member of Unison Black Members”.
Roma Taylor Chair of the Windrush Cymru Elders said: “I remember Donna, the children and Lydia her mum, joining the Windrush trips we organised in 2018 to Tilbury Docks, Liverpool Slavery Museum and Bristol Museum.
“Donna and her family enjoyed reminiscing about the contributions of the Windrush Generation to Wales - she was very proud of her Windrush heritage and her mum and her were members of the Windrush Cymru elders network managed by Race Council Cymru. She had a beautiful, effervescent personality and a smile that lit up a room.”
Judge Ray Singh CBE Chair of Race Council Cymru said Donna’s legacy of selfless service will never be forgotten.
She died after testing positive for coronavirus on April 10, Good Friday.
