Dorothy Bonner

Today we are here to honour, celebrate and remember Dorothy Bonner, Mama, Mama D, Miss Dor, born to Nathan Gordon and Julian Smith on November 19, 1931 in the district of Content Clarendon in Jamaica. She attended Rock Rive All Age School. At an early age she lost both parents and had to be on her own very early. She was brought up with traditional values and learnt the skills that a woman of her era should- cooking, Knitting, sewing and embroidery, which she was very good at even up until the last 10 years. In later days she went to Saint Catherine where she lived with her aunt Kate for awhile and then moved to Brainerd Saint Mary where she fell in love and married to Alva Bonner in 1958, and thereafter joined the Lewisburgh Seventh Day Adventist Church where she participated in all and every events the church would host and make herself useful in the community of Brainerd where she lived, and its adjoining districts. Our family grew up with little money but we were always taken care of by a mother who was determined to make life better as our father was physically challenged. She later went to live in Tremolsworth District, Highgate, St. Mary with her husband Alva in July 1988. Mama was kind hearted, a lover of people, love to cook, love to sing, love to go on outings with the church, hardworking, courageous, gave her all to her family, the poor and the needy, shut inns and sick in the communities, mama had endless stream of friends young and old wherever she goes and this was an attribute of her contagious personality and a passion for life. There was never a day she cooked and did not think of passer’s by who would need something to eat and if any child food was shared and someone comes along it would be shortened to facilitate the person. She was god sent. In 1997 mama was sponsored by me and migrated to the United States of America and lived with me and my kids for a short while in the Bronx and then joined Dian who was also living in the Bronx at that time, she subsequently moved to live in Georgia with Diane where she had her last place of abode. While she was in Georgia she usually attend the Community Centre where she had lots of friends, she was one of the more able bodied one hence she helped the others, however way she could. When she leaves for holidays and visited Jamaica and England, on her return she would be sad, talking about some of her friends who had passed on while she was away, this usually takes a toll on her. She was an outgoing person full of life, Diane would take her for holidays and long drives in and around America from time to time. Health issues began to roar its ugly head against her Mama had diabetes, and other old age conditions started to set in, but she was upbeat and usually eats what she loves although she knew it was not the best for her. Her gesture was if you eat it you are going to die and if you don’t you are going to die. Over the years she started to have complications and subsequently lost her legs. Her conditions deteriorated drastically in the last year or so and hospital became her part time home. On the 17th day of May, 2021 she was discharged from hospital and on the 26th day of May, 2021 surrounded by family and friends she took her last breath and went to be with the lord. She was predeceased by her husband Alva and first child Carmella in 1991 and later her siblings Icyline, Mary, Hermine and Zachariah. Left to cherish her memories are her children: Raymond, Venice, Sonia, Wesley, Joseph, Diane, Nigel and Andrea. Her last surviving sibling Rupert, Grandchildren, Great grandchildren, nieces nephews, other relatives and friends. It is an honour to stand before you and share precious memories of my mother. She will be missed by all who have come in contact with her but her memories will live on in our hearts forever.

Tributes

Dorothy Bonner

November 19, 1931 - May 26, 2021