ELDER BARBARA J. BONER

On March 13, 1943, a baby girl was born to Alice and Rev. Henry Boner in Chicago, Illinois. She was named Barbara, affectionately called, "BON BON". She grew and developed into a lively young child. Her education began in the Chicago Public School System graduating from Brown Elementary School, and Crane High School, Malcolm X Junior College, and she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work from Roosevelt University.

Barbara’s spiritual journey began at Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastorage of the Late Rev. Mootry, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and was baptized. She began attending the Children's Neighborhood B-I-B-L-E Club under the leadership of the late Missionary Ann Patton who taught her to memorize Bible Verses, and which remained in her memory all of her life.  In her teenage years, her mother's friend, Janie Mathis, suggested that should send Barbara to Greater Union Missionary Church to get involved in the youth activities and to join the Youth Choir, of which Maudine McCurine Wordlaw was choir director. Barbara came and joined Greater Union under the Pastorage of the late Rev. S. H. Graham. She became very active in the Sunday School, Baptist Training Union, Young Women's Auxiliary (YWA) and the Youth Choir. Her beautiful soprano voice was discovered, and she became one of the choir's featured soloists. Whenever Barbara led the choir in an anthem or a gospel song, the church was on their feet shouting and praising God.

Her mother, Alice Boner, soon moved her membership to Greater Union and she also became a faithful and dedicated member. Mother Alice made sure that Barbara traveled with the choir wherever they were singing and especially to attend the annual Midwest Baptist Youth Conference. Barbara's spiritual stature began to grow and develop.  Soon, everyone she came in contact with became her friend and she was their Spiritual Counselor.

After graduating from Junior College, she was employed at Marillac House, (which was operated by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul), as Director of The Kiddieville Department, where she was in charge of children ages 5 to 12 years, providing before and after school care.  During the Summer, she was the Director of the Kiddieville Summer Camp.  She hired teenagers to work and to be her staff for the Summer. The camp had a highly structured daily program. Parents wanted their children in Summer Day Camp with Miss Barbara. They visited the zoo, beaches, many museums, went to see movies and did enjoyed out-of-town trips to Washington, D.C. and to the Cincinnati Zoo.  Her staff loved and  highly respected her, responding to her call, "Yes, Miss Bon Bon".

Music has always been one of Barbara’s "fortes". She sang in the Malcolm X Junior College Choir under Dr. Mack, and with Dr. Charles Clency in the Voices of Melody. She helped to organize the Trio called "The Triad" under the tutelage of Dr. Clency. He introduced "The Triad" to Second Christian Church. She was one of the Soloist in the Chicago Black Passion Play, sang in the Billy Graham Crusade Choir, and she was always in the National Baptist Convention Mass Choir when the convention met in Chicago.   

Barbara’s spiritual journey continued when she met Dr. T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. (presently, Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr.), and she relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana and joined Light of the World Christian Church. Her ministry at "The Light" began with singing in the Sanctuary Choir under Walter Owens, attending Sunday School, and as a member of the Esther Circle of the Christian Women's Fellowship. Bishop Benjamin consecrated her to be an Elder and she was appointed Under Shepherd of the Prayer Warriors, which began with the "Celebration of Hope" Worship with Light of the World and 2nd Presbyterian Church and it grew to include other various churches in the greater Indianapolis area. She had a heart full of love and gold for "The Light Squad". If you were looking for her or called her phone on Tuesday night, she was with them, bossing, praying and telling them and their parents what to do. 

Upon relocating to Indianapolis, Barbara was hired by Indianapolis Public School System. Her duties as a Social Worker included helping children and their parents, feeding them spiritually and physically until she retired.  She enjoyed using her Thanksgiving Day to prepare dinner and get others to volunteer with her to feed IPS families Thanksgiving dinner. This was her way of teaching and ministering to them for Thanksgiving. She was awarded the "Virtuous Woman's Award" by the IPS Consortium of African American Christian Women.  

Barbara’s ministry was Social Work covered in PRAYER. No matter where she was, if she saw a need she addressed it, and then went in "Prayer". She loved stopping at KFC to get chicken for the homeless men in the alleys.  She would drive there late at night to give it to them, would call their name from her car window if she did not see them, and they would come out to her. She never did a lot of walking, but she would sit in a chair or in her car giving advice and praying for a person and a situation that was happening. Only Barbara could scold, advise, encourage and pray, whether you liked it or not.

She lived eighty years of a dedicated, consecrated, spirit-filled life!!! Preceded in death by her parents, she has left to continue celebrating her life her son, Minister Kevin Tony Boner; daughter, Michelle Boner; daughter-in-love, Louise Boner; granddaughter, Lauren Boner; sister, Rev. Maudine McCurine Wordlaw; niece, Katrina Ann Foster (Kevin); great-niece Jakara Segrest; great-nephew, James Segrest; great-great-nieces, Jazman Moore and R'Javia Segrest; great-great-nephews, James Ellis Segrest and Zion James Segrest; her adopted sister, Jeanne O'Neal; adopted daughters, Mellanie Pendleton Fryer, Rev. Yvette Foreste, Toron Jackson-Kenny, Alalia Lott, Tamalar Rouse, Karen Williams-Taylor, and Deondra Wardelle; adopted son, Bryant Clayton, Sr.; adopted goddaughters, Drea Bowdry and Aria Bowdry; and the Light of the World Christian Church Family.

As Bon would say,

"GIVE IT TO GOD AND GO TO SLEEP!"

Humbly Submitted                 The Family

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