Bonnie Crawford Lord

Bonnie Crawford Lord, 84, has gone to be with Jesus, her Lord and Savior, in Paradise. Born on January 1, 1941, in Miami, Florida to “Peach” Crawford and Leona Starling Crawford, Bonnie passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Lexington, North Carolina in her children’s care.

One of 12 children, Bonnie was a fraternal twin and grew up on a farm in Starke, Florida surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and all manner of extended family on a long, sandy dirt road that bore the Crawford name. Within this large family, the bonds of love were powerful and lasting, hard work was a way of life, and laughter was a love language.

Shortly after graduating high school, Bonnie met William Glenn Lord (Bill), who was stationed on a nearby naval base in Jacksonville, Florida. They married on February 18, 1960, in St. Augustine, Florida and began building a life and family together—their marriage thrived 45 years until Bill passed away in 2005. With a few moves to complete service in the Navy and to establish a career, they had 5 children early on then settled in Oak Ridge, North Carolina in 1970. They soon had one more child, completing their close-knit family of 8.

An extraordinary wife and mother, Bonnie carried on the legacy of love and hard work passed down by her family of origin. Possessing a strong mind, body, and spirit, she devoted herself wholly to her husband and her children, making home the center of the family’s life, and pouring all her heart, energy, and efforts into whatever would foster their flourishing, not considering it a sacrifice to give her all for their sakes. Love can only grow in that kind of soil.

Bonnie and Bill were true partners in everything they did, from raising 6 stair-step children on a single income, to gardening their 3 acres, to raising pigs and chickens, and to building significant parts of their home place over many years with the help of their young brood.

A ‘can-do’ woman, Bonnie was an excellent manager of the home and stretched the paycheck so that the family never had to do without. She made holidays and birthday celebrations special for all and established memorable traditions for the family. No matter how hard or gritty the work at hand, she was never unkempt but maintained her natural beauty, aided only by bright lipstick; she used to blot her lips on an envelope, leaving a bright kiss print on the daily mail at the kitchen table among her well-organized lists.

Once her children were gone from the home, her green thumb turned from gardening to provide food to cultivating beauty through landscaping around the home place. Resourceful, wise, beautiful, loving, independent, intelligent, organized, and strong, Bonnie remained so to the very end, handling her own affairs and giving wisdom to her children even when a years long season with pain left her with diminished mobility. She loved to laugh, thoroughly enjoyed her husband and children’s antics and humor, and when pain was overwhelming she still managed to chuckle when someone tickled her funny bone. Among Bonnie's parting words to her children were how much she loved each of her children, and not only that, but she also loved and enjoyed the people they have become, which she said 'is a step above'.

Though no one came ahead of Bill, her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, Bonnie loved people and connected with others everywhere she went. As her pain crescendoed in the last weeks of her life, she was genuinely kind to nurses, doctors, caregivers, friends, family, or anyone with whom she spoke, offering a smile and making sure their needs were met even before her own, and still had the heart to 'mother' her adult children. In her final days on this earth, some of her caregivers were moved to tears by the love Bonnie had fostered over a lifetime which was manifest among her children tending to and loving her, as well as their closest childhood friends who returned to give her their love as they said goodbye.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her 11 siblings.

She is survived by her 6 children: son Eddie Lord (wife, Robyn); daughter Wendy Barlow (husband, Kurt); daughter Suzan Banks (husband, Ben); son Derek Lord (wife, Jen-i); daughter Kelly Bishop (husband, Dave); daughter Felicia Lord (husband, Ryan Hoke); her 18 grandchildren, Craig Ray (wife, Maria), Andy Ray (wife, Dex), Eddie Lord Jr (wife, Jennifer), Brian Lord, Meredith Schwandt (husband, Stephen), Zack Barlow (wife, Caroline), Christian Barlow, Caitie Anne Banks, Charis Banks, Decker Banks, Lauren Brock (husband, Clay), Emily Lord (fiancé, Logan), Jessica Lord, Brett Lord, Ben Bishop, Peter Bishop, Anna Bishop, Jack Bishop, and her 9 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Tommy Lord (wife, Gwyn); brother-in-law Dave Lord (wife, Lynn); sister-in-law Diane Gomez; sister-in-law Kay Lord; cousin Helen Howard; as well as numerous, beloved nephews and nieces.

A service to honor Bonnie and glorify God will be held on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel, 3950 Macy Grove Road, Kernersville, North Carolina, 27284, and will be immediately followed by a graveside committal service at Mt. Gur Cemetery, 1050 Cemetery Street, Kernersville, North Carolina, 27284.

In lieu of flowers or trees, consider donating to AuthoraCare (hospice) at 914 Chapel Hill Rd, Burlington, NC 27215 at this link: https://www.authoracare.org/give