VIRGINIA BURRIS BOYD BONNER - Virginia Stuart Burris passed away July 29, 2012, at Trinity Heathcare surrounded by her family. Funeral services will be Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 2:00 PM at First Baptist Church with Dr. Shawn Parker officiating. The private family interment will immediately follow at Murrah's Chapel Cemetery. Visitation wil be Wednesday, August 1, 2012, one hour prior to the service at First Baptist Church. Gunter & Peel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Bonner was born in Columbus, MS, on August 19, 1924, to Thomas Oscar Burris and Emmie Chandler Burris. She attended school at Demonstration School, Lee Junior High School and graduated in 1942 from S. D. Lee High School in the largest graduating class ever at that time. On April 1, 1943, she married her long-time sweetheart, William Craddock Boyd, Jr. They moved to William's ancestral home, Cradland, in the New Hope community where they raised four children. They were both horse enthusiasts and spent most of their time in competitive horse training. They lived at Cradland until William's death in 1976. In 1977, Virginia married Charles Wesley Bonner and moved to the Prairie. Charles and Virginia traveled extensively to places such as Africa, Russia, England, Spain, Peru, Egypt, The Galapogas Islands and Greece. After Charles died Virginia moved back to Cradland where she lived until moving to Trinity Place Retirement Home. Virginia was a member of The Pioneer Society of Columbus and Lowndes County, The Daughters of the American Revolution and was a Life Member of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary. She was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Columbus where she had attended since birth. She is preceded in death by her two husbands, William Craddock Boyd, Jr. and Charles Wesley Bonner, daughter, Monty Boyd Hatcher, and granddaughter, Emily Elizabeth Swanner. She is survived by her brother, Thomas Oscar Burris of Jackson, MS, son, William Craddock Boyd, III, daughters, Mary Thomas "Tee" Pittman and husband Terre, and Rebecca Stuart Cunningham and husband Bill, son-in-law, Ronny Hatcher, step-daughter, Betty Bonner DeBord and husband Dan, step-son, Billy Bonner, granddaughter, Jenny Hatcher Carroll and husband Blake, grandsons, Billy Boyd and wife Meredith, Forrest Hatcher, Key Pittman, Coby Pittman, Camp Pittman, step-granddaughter, Kate DeBord, and step-grandson, Will DeBord, great granddaughters, Tristen Boyd, Makinzie Boyd, Mary-Emmie Carroll, and great grandsons, Shay Boyd, and JD Boyd. Pallbearers will be Keylon Thomas Pittman, Coby Terrell Pittman, Campton Stuart Pittman, Forrest Chandler Hatcher, and Blake Christopher Carroll. Her love for her family is equal only to her love for all creatures, great and small. She was an avid supporter of the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society as well as a PETA supporter. Her passion in life was animals, mainly horses and dogs. For this reason the family asks that in lieu of flowers and food please send memorials to the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society, P.O. Box 85, Columbus, MS, 39703, or First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS, 39703.
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