Memorial services for Rev. Edward D. Bonner, age 87, of Gadsden, AL. will be held at 1p.m. on Friday, April 6, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Alabama City with Rev. Dr. John Woods Sr., Officiating. Interment will follow in Lincoln Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service.
The Obituary
The Reverend Dr. Edward Dixon Bonner was born on January 20, 1931 to the late Fred and Hennie Bonner in Wilcox County, Alabama. He departed this life on Sunday, April 1, 2018 at his home in Gadsden, Alabama.
He received his formal education at private and public schools in Wilcox County, graduating from Camden Academy on May 28, 1950, and later joined the United States Army, where he spent a tour of duty in Korea from December 1952 to December 1953. Upon completion of military service, he attended Daniel Payne College in Birmingham, Alabama, where he received an Associate of Arts degree in May of 1956. He then earned a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1959 from Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina, a Master’s degree in Education from Alabama State University, and did additional graduate work at New York University, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Faith College, where he earned his Doctor of laws and Doctor of Divinity degrees. He did his seminary training at Emory University School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dr. Bonner received Christ at an early age, and was a follower of the United Methodist faith. He accepted his call to the ministry in 1967, and pastored several churches, including Goodsell United Methodist in Gadsden, Alabama, Collins Chapel in Collinsville, AL, and St. Paul United Methodist in Ashville, Alabama, until his retirement in 1996.
Dr. Bonner’s professional career began at Daniel Payne College in 1960 as Business Manager. In 1969, he accepted a teaching position at Gadsden State Junior College, becoming the first African American to assume such a role at the institution. There, he taught history and sociology until 1978. In July of that year, he was appointed President of Gadsden State Technical College by the Alabama State Department of Education. He served in that capacity for four years, just prior to the merging of Alabama Technical College, Gadsden State Technical Institute, and Gadsden State Junior College into one Gadsden State Community College. After the merger, he was assigned to the position of Director of Student Support Services, and later, Evening Director, from which he retired in 1995.
Dr. Bonner is a lifelong member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., where he was initiated in 1957 at Allen University’s Beta Rho Chapter. He served on numerous Boards of Directors in the city of Gadsden, including: The Industrial Development Authority, The Civil Service Board, The NAACP, The Etowah County Voters League, The SCLC, and the Alabama Democratic Conference.
Dr. Bonner was preceded in death by his loving and dedicated wife of 53 years, Katie Woods Bonner, three brothers, Roosevelt, Fred, and James, sisters-in-law Dorothy, Willie and Lucy, and sisters, Gwendolyn, Ethel and Earlie. He leaves to cherish his memories, a brother, Bob Bonner, Leslie, West Virginia, his children, Edward (Sheila) Barge, Dallas, Texas, Eluard (Sheryl) Bonner, Slidell, Louisiana, Karen (Mark) Peters, Dallas, Texas, and Belinda and Tony(a loving and devoted son-in-law) Reddick, Gadsden, Alabama, two very special grandchildren Lindsay (William) Harden, Birmingham, Alabama, and Evan Reddick, Gadsden, Alabama, his latest love, great grandson William E. Harden III, Birmingham, Alabama, in-laws John and Barbara Woods, Gadsden, Alabama, Willie Mae Haskins, Alexander City, Alabama, Larry and Ruby Woods, Greensboro, Alabama, Donald Ray and Earlene Turner, Ragland, Alabama, Hobert Ratliff, Quinwood, West Virginia, and Reuben Purifoy, Milwaukee Wisconsin, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
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