Funeral services were held April 27, 2019, at Greater Sweet Beulah
Church of God in Christ for Mother Bonnie Ree Newsome, 80, who passed
away on April 19, 2019, at Asbury Hospice House, Hattiesburg. Pastor
Hosea Brown officiated with interment following Coleman Cemetery in
Prentiss. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mother Bonnie Newsome was the second child of 11 children born to G.
W. and Lucille Hawthorne Coleman. She was preceded in death by three
siblings, Jimmy Coleman, Herbert Coleman and Linda Coleman Barnes. She
attended school at Hebron Color, Oakley Elementary, McLaurin High and
Prentiss Institute. Most rewarding was earning her GED after the age
of 50 and receiving an opportunity to work at Magnetech Manufacturing
for many years.
She joined St. Mary at the age of 9 and remained a servant until her
death. She served from a janitor to an Evangelist Missionary; also
YWCC President and Adult Sunday School Teacher for over 50 years.
Mother Newsome loved outreach ministry; she served in prison ministry
at Marion-Walthall Correctional Prison and nursing home ministry at
Jefferson Davis County Extended Care Facility.
Mother Newsome was preceded in death by her husband of over 55 years,
John L. Newsome and son, Kenneth Coleman.
She is survived by: son, John D. (Angelia) Newsome of Cantonment, FL;
four daughters, Lavern (Sammy) Parkman and Diana (Sylvania) Campier
both of Prentiss; Gloria (Randolph, III) Chestang of Sumrall; and
Pamela (George) Sandifer of Hattiesburg, MS; ten grandchildren;
sister, Ada (John) McKey of Harker Heights, Texas; three brothers,
Willie Coleman of New Orleans, Louisiana, Jerry (Joyce) Coleman and
Wayde (Gwen) Coleman of Prentiss; aunt, Mary Hawthorne; god son, Billy
R. Brown; special daughters, Mattie Walker, Ellen Hubbard, Martha
Malloy and Deidre Bennett; many, many other relatives and friends.