Bonnie L. Bethea

BONNIE LOU BETHEA was born on January 16, 1952, in Baltimore, Maryland to Simon Peter and Bessie Mae Brown. Bonnie was the second of seven children born to her parents. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Gregory Brown, Willie Brown, and Jeffrey Brown; and one sister, Tonia Brooks. Bonnie was educated in the Baltimore Public School System where she graduated from Edmondson High School. She began classes at Morgan State University as the first in her family to attend college. At 20 years old, Bonnie began what would ultimately be a 40-year career with Baltimore City. She served in several positions within the city, most of which were in the offices of the Baltimore City Fire Department. Bonnie accepted Christ as her Lord and personal Savior at an early age. She continued to serve Him throughout her life. She was a devout member of Saint Matthew Catholic Church where she attended mass weekly and volunteered in many capacities, among them, cleaning the church weekly for several years and supporting many campaigns and ministries. Bonnie also faithfully read and studied the Bible daily; she took great comfort in God’s Word. Bonnie’s greatest joy in life was being a mother to her son, Darryl Anthony “Tony” Bethea and grandmother to her grandson, Ethan James Bethea. Each conversation that she had with anyone included an update on her two boys. From the moment that Tony was born, Bonnie was a loving, attentive and extremely proud mother. Her foremost desire was that he would grow up to be a successful, self-sufficient man and she did everything in her power to ensure that her wish would come to fruition. She signed Tony up for baseball, football, and Cub Scouts. And she attended every game, meet, assembly, and ceremony. Bonnie was so dedicated to and protective of Tony that he asked her not to run onto the football field if he were to ever get hurt. She was also very adamant that Tony takes school seriously which resulted in his earning a place in magnet programs and schools throughout his secondary education culminating in his graduating from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. As he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in college, Bonnie was always there to cheer him on at his games and track meets. She has always been his greatest supporter and that continued throughout his life. He was truly her pride and joy. When Ethan was born, that love and immense pride extended to her grandson. Bonnie was the quintessential grandmother. She absolutely doted on, as she called him, “my little Ethan”. He spent the night at her house every Friday; they had a routine of eating pizza and grapes, then her reading while he played (with toys at first, then video games in later years). And the same things that were important to her while raising Tony, were important to her with Ethan. She championed him at every event, concert, play and Grandparent’s Day. She wanted an update after every doctor’s appointment, report card, conference or conversation with a teacher. She could not have loved or cherished him more. Coming from a close-knit family, Bonnie spent countless days with Tony, her siblings, nieces, and nephews. She hosted cook outs or made spaghetti and had them over often. Before moving to her house, everyone would climb over the balcony railing of her apartment and come in through those doors. There were big celebrations at Timbuktu Restaurant, a family adventure to Disney World, trips with her sister, Tonia “Toni”, and her mother to Atlantic City to the casinos, and innumerable fun days and gatherings. She was also devoted to those she loved. She was instrumental in caring for her sister, Tonia “Toni”, and brother, Gregory, while they battled illnesses. And, she had been, along with her sister, Carolyn, the caregiver for her mother, Bessie, for the past ten years. After losing her sister, Toni, she became even closer to her niece, Shannon. They shared a special relationship, connected by the love for each other and Toni; Shannon became like a daughter to Bonnie and Shannon’s daughter, Marlee, like a granddaughter. Bonnie had an enduring love with her lifetime companion of 51 years, Eugene “Gene” Owens. They shared their life together; over the years enjoying fun days at ball games, amusement parks, Moe’s Seafood Restaurant or just spending time together watching tv. They were each the other’s best friend, and they loved and supported one another through all of life’s ups and downs. Bonnie was a voracious reader; it was her favorite thing to do. She could often be found with a book or her kindle in her hand. She was fiercely independent. She loved to exercise; she walked daily on her lunch break when she was working and joined a gym and went regularly after she retired. She really liked playing her numbers and going to the casino. She loved to watch tennis; she even attended the U.S. Open to see the tournament in person. She was a bit resistant to change, particularly when it came to technology, but when Tony convinced her to try something new she became a fast convert. She was an avid bowler, belonging to several leagues through the years. She savored a good meal (it had to be very hot), especially a crab cake, and she loved snowballs so much that she bought her own machine. Bonnie was kind, funny, compassionate and loyal. She left her loved ones with so many amazing and fond memories. She was a constant source of strength, love and support for her family. She loved the Lord and His Word. She was a tremendously loving and committed mother and grandmother, a caring and steadfast daughter, sister and aunt, and a trusted and understanding friend. Left behind to cherish her memory are her loving son, Darryl Anthony “Tony” Bethea; grandson, Ethan James Bethea; mother, Bessie Mae Brown; two sisters: Lucille Reid and Carolyn Brown; loving companion, Eugene Owens; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bonnie L. Bethea

January 16, 1952 - July 27, 2026