Founder & CEO, AfterLight

Rachel Donnelly is the founder and CEO of AfterLight and author of the book Late To Your Own Funeral, helping clients navigate the administrative maze of estate settlement and legacy planning. Her mission is simple: to help the living deal with dying.

She created AfterLight after serving as executor for both her mother's and uncle's estates within a short period, while working full-time and raising two children. That experience—managing five house cleanouts and endless paperwork—showed her what families really need in times of loss. What began as a response to her own family's challenges has grown into a pioneering service that transforms how families approach estate settlement and legacy planning.

As an after loss professional, she serves as a "wedding coordinator, but for death," guiding clients through the complex responsibilities that follow loss. Her expertise spans from traditional estate administration to emerging challenges like digital assets and cross-border estates. Prior to founding AfterLight, Donnelly built a successful career in development at institutions including Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the Shepherd Center Foundation. A graduate of Agnes Scott College, Donnelly serves on the board of Momento Foundation and is a speaker on estate planning and legacy preservation. She lives in Decatur with her husband and two children, where she continues to advocate for better preparation around life's most challenging transition.