Bonnie Barbara Perry

Bonnie Barbara Perry, age 88, passed away on Monday, September 21, 2026. A graveside funeral service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, September 26th at 11:00 A.M. in the Harris Family Cemetery, Heards Bridge Road, Davisboro. Reverend Ron Dixon and Reverend Jay Reppert will officiate. Viewing will take place on Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. in May and Smith Funeral Directors. Family and friends will be at the home of Robin and Steve Black, 108 McNeely Street, in Davisboro.

Miss Perry was born September 4, 1938, the daughter of the late John “Jack” Fairey and Geneveive Anne Stroh and was raised in the Emory “Druid Hills” section of Atlanta, GA. She was dedicated at Ponce de Leon Baptist church, pastored by the renowned Reverend Louis D. Newton. Her earliest memories were of the Sunday afternoon announcement of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, air raid sirens, black-out curtains over windows, rationing (“don’t scuff your shoes”) and adults bursting into tears at the announcement of President F.D. Roosevelt’s death, and the shock of learning The Loan Ranger radio program was “transcribed” and not heard as it happened. Mrs. Perry’s mother re-married returning South Pacific veteran Edward Forrest “Bubba” Perry, who adopted Bonnie in 1946 and they relocated to Davisboro. In 1956 the family group with sister, Eve Elizabeth Perry, moved to West Hollywood, FL.

Bonnie graduated there, from South Boward Highschool in 1957, attending Mercer University in Macon, transferring to Florida State University in Tallahassee, graduating in 1961 with a degree in Social Studies, Philosophy and Journalism. While at FSU she wrote for their student newspaper, The Flambeau, as reporter, served as summer editor, and worked as “Capitol Correspondent” to the Florida Legislature for the Pinellas County Democrat newspaper, and participated in the ill-fated “White Rose Movement” to free Cuba from Fidel Castro. Following graduation Ms. Perry worked for Groves Keen Advertising agency and The Lake Reporter magazine in Atlanta, and Gross Greenman Advertising in Hollywood, FL. She returned to Davisboro during the Cuban Missile Crisis, fall of 1962. She completed the school term of 1962-63 teaching second grade at Louisville Academy.

Following six years of teaching in Orlando, FL, Bonnie returned to Davisboro again teaching at Louisville Academy, where she was privileged to teach her original second graders, now in ninth grade. The following year, Jefferson County integrated into Louisville Highschool. She taught grades six through 12, acting as advisor for 25+ yearbooks and several student newspapers. She also earned a Master’s degree in Education and Library Science. Upon retirement after 32 ½ years in 1995, she taught college courses for GA Military College and Sandersville Tech, and set up the city library in Davisboro, acted in and directed a number of play productions at Bartow, GA Schoolhouse Players. Ms. Perry was a member, 3-time past president of Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Teachers Society, and Georgia Retired Educators, serving as the first female president of the Louisville Chapter. In addition to her parents, Bonnie is predeceased in death by her sister, Eve Elizabeth Perry.

Ms. Perry is survived by nieces; Kim Scheel, Robin Black, and Cynthia T. Rutledge and Godson; Cody Sherrill, his wife and three children and a host of cousins, friends and 3,000 students.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Davisboro United Methodist Church, c/o Joy Norris, 2501 Hwy 15 North, Sandersville, GA 31082.

Condolences may be made online at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com

May and smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.