Obituary:  Mrs. Cynthia Ann Bonner, 10 Feb 1884 - Smith Co, TX

Submitted by Vicki Betts <Vicki_Betts@mail.uttyl.edu
11 Sep 2002

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TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, March 1, 1884, p. 7, c. 4

BONNER.—The subject of this sketch, Mrs. Cynthia Ann Bonner, died at 
the family residence in Tyler, Texas, at 10 o'clock, Feb. 10, 1884. 
She was the wife of our fellow townsman, col. T. R. Bonner. She was 
the youngest daughter of William and Sarah Madden, and was born in 
Claiborne parish, Louisiana, August 30, 1835. She was buried in the 
Tyler cemetery Feb. 11, 1884. Mrs. Bonner was intimately known to 
very few persons with whom she became acquainted. She was of a modest, 
retiring disposition, living and performing the duties of life in 
strict sincerity. In all her acts she seemed governed by duty—first, 
duty to her God; second, duty to her family, and lastly, duty to 
society. So earnest was she in the two former that she never had 
much intercourse with society, and consequently was but little known 
save by reputation. She was a consistent, earnest member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Religion with her was not a form, 
but a rich and lasting substance—a fountain out of which the waters 
of truth and goodness flowed, and from which her soul took new 
strength and nourishment every day and every hour. She regarded 
religion as the basis of all good and all comfort, and all her 
words and acts were governed by its rules and tempered with its 
love and charity. It is said that her seat at church was never vacant 
save by Providential hindrance. She went to church not for the credit 
the world might give, but for the comfort it shed around her own soul 
and the influence it might have upon others around her; and under 
the shadows of the pulpit and altar it may be truthfully said that 
she knew no other thought and saw no other scene than those which 
brought her in close communion with her Maker. She was not a hearer 
of the Word only, but a doer also. Not a loud, self-interested 
worker, but a quiet, humble laborer, whose influence in her Master's 
vineyard, like the still, deep running of a constant stream, never 
slept nor tired, but to-day, to-morrow, and all the time, swept on 
toward the throne, bearing cares the world never knew and doing 
deeds that have their reward not in the praise of the multitude but 
in the judgment of the great hereafter. She was a woman who was not 
priced at her full value by those with whom she had only a casual 
acquaintance. But to know her well was to love her, and those who 
knew her best loved her most. First surprise, then respect, next 
admiration, and lastly love—love that is deep and strong—these were 
the emotions which always sprang from continued association with 
her. There was a beauty and simplicity in her life; a soft, sweet 
harmony of time and eternity; an earnestness and sincerity of thought 
and action, that only those who knew her intimately ever felt. There 
are some birds whose songs, though sweeter than the sweeter than the 
sweetest, the world never hears; there are some flowers whose 
fragrance the world never shares; but they are God's—his handiwork 
and his glory. So there are some souls born not for the world, not 
the eyes and ears of men, but born for God and his glory; Cynthia 
Ann Bonner was one of these. She died as she lived—a true and 
trusting woman—a noble wife—a clinging Christian.

The consciousness of faith, of sins forgiven,
Of wrath appeased, of every guilt thrown off,
Sheds on her breast its long forgotten peace,
And shining steadfast as the noon-day sun,
Lightened her along the path that duty marks.
and to-day she sings a glad new song in heaven.—B. B. C. 

TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, April 5, 1884, p. 7, c. 5
BONNER.—WHEREAS, Our Father in his infinite wisdom has seen fit to 
call from the Tyler Woman's Missionary Society our beloved sister, 
Cinthia [sic] H. Bonner, and whereas, we, each and all, feel a 
sincere interest in the memory of her life, as well as the sorrow 
of her departure, therefore,

Resolved, 

1. That in the death of our sister this society has lost an earnest 
   worker; one whose interest in its welfare, and whose faith in its 
   benefits had no superior.

2. That the church has lost a shining light; an example which led many 
   souls out of the dark and dismal night of sin into the open ark of 
   safety; that to those who knew her in the church, she is not dead, 
   but only gone on before. The footprints she has left upon the sands 
   of time lead straight to the gates of heaven, and those who follow 
   them will surely meet her in the presence of our God and Savior.

3. That in the death of our sister we have lost a zealous worker in 
   the vineyard of our Lord and Master; the poor and needy have lost 
   a true friend, one whose heart and hand were ever open to their 
   cries; the husband a perfect wife, a helpmeet indeed; and the world 
   a noble woman.

4. That while we deeply deplore the loss of our sister, we can trust 
   her in the hands of that God who doeth all things well. A life 
   spent in the Master's cause can but receive from him as its reward 
   a "crown that fadeth not away, eternal in the heavens."

5. That we deeply sympathise with her family in their bereavement, 
   and may He who alone can heal the broken heart and comfort the 
   bruised spirit, help them to say, "Not my will, but thine, oh, 
   Lord! be done," and make them to realize that "earth hath no 
   sorrow that heaven cannot cure."

6. That a copy of these resolutions be furnished the family of the 
   deceased, that a copy be spread upon the minutes of this society, 
   and that one be furnished the TEXAS CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE, the 
   Woman's Missionary Advocate, and the Tyler Reporter.

							Mrs. W. G. Cain,
							Mrs. B. W. Rowland,
							Mrs. R. S. Finley,
							Committee.