James Reginald “Backbone” Bonner, 55, of 504 Railroad Avenue, entered eternal rest on Thursday, September 29, 2016, in Mary Black Hospital- Gaffney.

Husband of Doris Black Bonner, he was born in Gaffney and was a son of the late Booker T. Bonner, Sr., and the late Jo Ann Petty Bonner.

James was a 1979 graduate of Gaffney High School and a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a member of Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church and a member of Limestone Masonic Lodge #117.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Barbara Bonner and Booker T. Bonner, Jr.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by: two daughters, Dianca McCluney of Charlotte, N.C. and Shunda Lockhart of Blacksburg; 2 brothers, Larry Bonner of Blacksburg and Millard Bonner (Pat) of Oklahoma City, Okla.; 5 sisters, Sherrill Smith (Kenny), Patsy Bonner, Sallie Bibb, and Fannie Bonner, all of Gaffney, Karen Hooker of Killeen, Texas; uncle and aunt, Sammy and Lenora Weeks of Gaffney; 4 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 2 p.m., in Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church with Rev. Laveria Wynn officiating. Interment will be Thursday, October 6th at 11 a.m., in M.J. Dolly Cooper Veteran’s Cemetery, Anderson, S.C. He will be in state in the church Wednesday at 1p.m.

The Gilmore Mortuary
www.gilmoresmortuary.com

Published in the Gaffney Ledger on Sept 30, 2016.