Missionary Jessie Wortham Bonner

BONNER, Missionary Jessie W. - Age 82, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at her residence. Family hour 10:00 AM Saturday, July 1, 2017 at New St. James Church of God In Christ, 2229 W. Carpenter Rd.I, with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM, Pastor Eddie Parrish, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Saturday. Missionary Bonner will lie in state at New St. James Church of God In Christ, and may be viewed from 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM Friday, with family present to receive friends from 2:00PM - 4:00 PM. Mother Jessie Mae Wortham-Bonner was born April 7, 1935 in Crenshaw, Mississippi to the late Superintendent Eugene and Parthina Wright. She accepted Jesus at a very early age under the leadership of her father, Superintendent Eugene Wright, Pastor of Wright’s Temple Church of God In Christ in Tutwilly, MS. She traveled with her dad singing for him as he preached the Word of God. She met Hubert Wortham and they were married April 23, 1953; from that union eight children were born. Jessie was an amazing woman with a strong determination to get an education. Jessie wasn’t able to attend school until the age of nine due to the fact that she was too small to walk the distance (the many miles). She was so happy to finally attend school on the Anderson Plantation. She eventually attended Lambert High School in Lambert, Mississippi. After relocating to Michigan, while working a full time job, Jessie was driven to continue her education in pursuit of her high school diploma, and graduated with Honors. She never stopped thrusting forward with the desire to pursue her lifelong dream, receiving her Culinary Arts degree in Baking and Pastry, at Mott Community College. Mrs. Bonner made great use of this degree working as a Professional Baking and Pastry Chef at Meijer Thrifty Acres where she retired after several years. She worked various other jobs prior to that such as; a C.N.A. in several nursing homes, Zenith Electronics and The Flint Journal. However, she returned to employment because of her love for children, becoming a daycare worker at Kingdom Academy leaving an indelible imprint on the hearts of so many children. Her hobbies and interests included baking, gardening, sewing, watching wrestling with her sister Luella Chappell, fishing and in depth studying of the Word of God. In addition to all the wonderful things she accomplished in her life, spending time with her children and grandchildren brought extreme joy to her heart. Mrs. Bonner went on to become a dynamic soloist, traveling Missionary making several trips to Haiti and a Chaplin at the Genesee County Jail till the time of her transition, (ministering to many broken women). Mother was a member of The New St. James Memorial Church of God In Christ where she served on many auxiliaries including the Usher Board, Mother Board, Choir President; Director of YWCC, CWC, Sewing Circle, Sunday School Teacher and Teacher of Home and Foreign Missions. She also served as District Mistress of Ceremony and District Missionary in The Mt. Zion District. She served in The North East Michigan Jurisdiction C.O.G.I.C. as a State Sunday School Field Representative, a worker in the Missions Department and Assistant to the Dean of the Missionary Training Institute. Mother Jessie Mae Wortham-Bonner leaves to cherish her memory: husband of two years of whom she was very devoted to, Auburn Bonner; 4 daughters, Frances (Lonnie) Brown, Dorothy (Peter) Chaney, Mary (Thomas) Galloway and Marilyn (Rory) Farris; 3 sons, Hubert (Thomasine) Wortham, Benzile Wortham and Madison (Regina) Wortham, all of Flint; special son-in-law, Alonzo Williams; step-sons, Anthony Bonner of Chicago, IL and Terrance Bonner of Arizona; 30 grandchildren; a host of great grand’s; brothers, Willie Wright and Eugene (Dorothy) Wright, both of Milwaukee, WI; sisters, Ester Wortham of WI, and Hattie Jean (Bishop Timothy T.) Scott of Mississippi; a host of other relatives and friends including special granddaughter, Gretchen Grant; special daughters, Linda Wortham, Rhonda Dixon, Terri Davis and Ramona Parrish; special sisters-in-law, Geneva Stratchan and Mary Faulkner. Mother Bonner was preceded in death by her first husband of 50 years, Hubert Wortham Sr.; daughter, Bertha Mae Williams; 3 great grands; parents, Superintendent Eugene and Parthina Wright; step-mother, Hattie Wright; sisters, Rosie Lee Butler, Ruby Mae Butts, Mary Rosenthal, Dorothy Jean Jones and Louella Chappell. The family would like to express special thanks to Pastor Eddie Parrish and the New St. James Memorial Church Of God In Christ family, Bishop Phillip Aquilla Brooks and The Historic First Jurisdiction, Kingdom of Heaven Ministries family, Grace Transformational Ministries family, Family Worship Center Church family, and Power of God Ministries family.

Missionary Jessie Wortham Bonner

April 7, 1935 - June 22, 2017