Aston Donald McEachin was born on October 10, 1961, in Nuremburg, Germany, while his father was serving in the U.S. Army. He was the only child of the late Ivan Benton “Sandy” McEachin, Sr. and the late Edna Hamilton McEachin, a teacher in the Richmond Public Schools. When his parents returned to Richmond, Donald attended Mary Munford Elementary School. After his parents moved to the Middleton Gee neighborhood in Henrico, Donald was one of the first African-American boys to attend and graduate from St. Christopher’s School (1979). Donald graduated from American University with a degree in Political Science (1983). He was the first black president of the school’s Student Confederation. Donald returned to Virginia to obtain his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law (1986) where he met his wife, Colette. After working for two different law firms, Donald and his friend Donald Gee took a leap of faith to open the McEachin & Gee Law Firm in 1990. The firm became successful and Donald made his first foray into the political arena. Although he lost his first political race, he upset an incumbent in 1996 to begin his political career in the Virginia House of Delegates. He served in the House from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2006 to 2008. He served in the Virginia Senate from 2008 to 2016. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2016. He loved being a legislator and working with others to craft policies that fulfilled his oft-stated mission: to solve problems and make the government work for his constituents. Donald served as an altar boy at his family church, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church (Richmond), and in adulthood was a faithful member of St. Peter Baptist Church (Henrico County) and later of Ebenezer Baptist Church (Beaverdam). Because of his life-long belief in the power of faith to help achieve the greatest good for the greatest number, he enrolled in the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University and received a Master of Divinity degree in 2008. He was very proud of the fact that he was finally able to boast that he had achieved a degree from an HBCU. He was ordained to the Christian ministry by Ebenezer Baptist Church in Beaverdam, Virginia in 2018. While he attended American University, Donald became a charter member of the Kappa Chi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated. He stayed in touch with his line brothers over the decades, became a lifetime member of the fraternity and wore his red Kappa jacket with pride. Donald was also a lifetime member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He was a former member of the Board of Governors of St. Christopher’s School and a former member of the Health System Board of Virginia Commonwealth University. In spite of all of his accomplishments, Donald was most happy at home with Colette and his three children: Mac, Briana and Alexandra. He was responsible for driving them to school and there were many conversations about his song selection on the radio, including his favorite song “Sweet Virginia Breeze.” In a reference to his abiding love of all versions of “Star Trek,” Donald was able to see “the next generation” when his perfect grandson, Gael, was born earlier this year. In addition to the devastating loss felt by Colette, Mac, Briana and Alexandra, Donald is mourned by his brother, Ivan B. “Poco” McEachin, Jr. and niece, Marion; his revered uncle, Lt. General (Ret.) Arthur Gregg and family; his cousins, the Green family (Harold Sr., Lucille, Harold, Jr. and Terone); his cousins Leslie T. Holden and Lois E. M. “Dusty” Jones and their families; his beloved mother-in-law, Gladys Wilson Wallace; Colette’s sister (Wilma), brothers (Lewis, Jr. and Steven) and their families; his great friend Donald Gee and the entire McEachin & Gee Law Firm family; his dedicated Congressional Office staff members; and a host of other friends, colleagues and constituents. Tuesday, December 6, 2022, public viewing 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; wake 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by Richmond Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Public Memorial Ceremony at Scott’s Chapel. A Celebration of Life and Service will be held on Wednesday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m.; viewing 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Baptist Church, 4247 Creighton Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Virginia Union University’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, the institution where Congressman McEachin received his Master of Divinity in 2008 and a place always close to his heart. To make a contribution by mail, use the following address: The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology Institutional Advancement, Attention: Deborah Alston Virginia Union University 1500 N. Lombardy St. Richmond, VA 23220 To make online donations, go to VUU.edu, then click on Donate. In the Designations box, click on SDP School of Theology Fund. Under Tribute Gift, Click the box indicating that this gift is in honor, memory, or support of someone. In the comments box write, "In memory of A. Donald McEachin.”

Cards for the family can be mailed to: Post Office Box 7020 Richmond 23221

Mask will be required for both services.