- Date Of Birth: February 20, 1927
- Date Of Death: November 12, 2022
- State: Illinois
Bonciel Barnes was the second of twelve children born to the union of Sheperd and Opehlia Rogers on February 20, 1927, in Elba, Alabama.
She completed her education at Macon County Training School in 1947 and on November 18, 1948, she married Willie Frank Barnes. To this union, Bonciel had nine children under her heart and five children in her heart.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was later baptized at Messiah Temple under Reverend Saulsby. Bonciel was an active member at Messiah Temple for over twenty years where she served as a member of the Willing Workers and Sunday School until illness kept her from attending. Even throughout her illness, she remained a passionate servant of God.
Bonciel’s love extended throughout her personal and professional life.
Bonciel was a woman of many talents. She was never one to sit and be idle. She loved fishing, cooking, crocheting, sewing, gardening, playing the piano and organ, singing and pottery. She was known for being the Rogers Family historian and loved conversing with her relatives. She had an impeccable memory and could recall even the smallest details.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Sheperd and Ophelia Rogers; husband, Willie Frank Barnes; children, Willie Barry, Alvin, Cornelious, Eugene, Gregory, Ezell, Ellen, Louise and Gladys; her sisters, Ada, Helen, Ceola, and Carol; and brothers, Henry Oscar, and Jacob.
She leaves to cherish her memory her children, Patricia, Lyndon (Patrice), Eric (Adrienne), Mark (Janice), Ronald (Mikki), Monica (Greg), and Emma (Willie); sisters, Melinda, Myra, and Anne (Vaughn); brother, Joe; forty-one grandchildren; many great and great-great grandchildren; and her dear friend, Ceola Gaylor.
One of Bonciel’s life verses, by which she lived, was Ephesians 6:1-3. Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
Bonciel will be remembered for her unwavering and unconditional display of love to all who knew her.
