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VIRGINIA ELIZABETH HARRISON BONNER

1923-2021

Virginia Elizabeth Harrison Bonner passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. She was born April 9, 1923 in the Pleasant Grove community in Troup County, Georgia and was the youngest of 13 children born to Notley and Lexa Carter Harrison. She grew up in the Pleasant Grove and Oak Grove community where she graduated from Chipley High School in 1941 and then went to work at Callaway Mills. It was there she met the man she always called – the love of her life – Phillip Bonner, Sr. They lived, loved and worked in the LaGrange area, joining the Hillcrest United Methodist Church where they raised their family until Phillip felt a calling by God to be a minister and joined the North Georgia United Methodist conference. Virginia often recalled that they were called to serve God together. He as minister and she as his devoted wife who would support him in the many churches they served together over the years. They were married for 47 years before his passing in March 1991. She missed him every day. Her faith has been the core of who she was. She tried to live out the great commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ She did this by loving her family, her friends and anyone who she might encounter in her life of service. This life of service also included returning to school and becoming an LPN in 1970. Then in 1991 she became a Volunteer at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center where she devoted 24 years and over 6,901 hours to serving patients, staff and her community. She was a faithful member of Hillcrest UMC and enjoyed her friendships and time with the Trinity UMC UMW and Fellowship Club. She is survived by her five children and their spouses: James Bonner of Hogansville, Brenda Mavity and husband James (Jimmy) Mavity of Rossville, Georgia, Phyllis Tarr of LaGrange, Michael Bonner and wife Vicki Bonner of Chickamauga, Georgia, Lisa Tunstall and husband John Tunstall, Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee. Her nine grandchildren and their spouses: Angela Richards, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Cyndi Thurman and husband John Thurman of Trenton, Georgia, Jon Tarr of Auburn, Alabama, Tammy Riddell and husband Troy Riddell of Fort St John, British Columbia, Canada, Sherry Cobb and Paul Clayton of Chickamauga, Georgia, Hope Wilson and her husband Anthony Wilson of Chickamauga, Georgia, Leigh Webb and her husband Steven Webb of LaGrange, Jennifer Sartor and her husband Vince Sartor of Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada, Phillip Daniel Bonner of Memphis, Tennessee and special chosen family members, Laurell Millirons and her husband Chuck Millirons of Dallas, Texas, Alyssa Reussow of Dallas, Texas, Steve (Vicki) Cottle of LaGrange and many nieces, nephews and extended family. When she first became a grandmother, she took on a new name that would identify her to her grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, ten great-great grandchildren and many of their friends. She was Big Mama and she loved all in her Big Mama way. For all who knew, loved her and were blessed to be loved by her, she would not want you to weep, she is with her Lord, her husband, parents and siblings – and we are sure there was ice cream at her homecoming. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 1 p.m. at the Higgins Funeral Home at Hunter Allen Myhand Chapel with social distancing and masking for those in attendance. Interment will follow at Shadowlawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the funeral home. The service will be live streamed at www.facebook.com/higginslagrangechapel.  In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for memorials to be sent to LaGrange College, Advancement Services, 601 Broad, LaGrange Georgia 30240 to the Phillip & Virginia Bonner Endowed Scholarship Fund.  Higgins Funeral Home at Hunter Allen Myhand, 706-884-5626.