Wagener- Mrs. Nancy Rish Bonnette died at National Health Center (NHC), Lexington on Tuesday, December 22. She resided in Wagener, SC for 87 years and was lovingly known by fellow residents as Miss Nancy.
Visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 26 at Wagener First Baptist Church. Funeral services will follow with Pastor Dave Robinson officiating. Burial will be in the Bethcar Baptist Church cemetery near Wagener.
A native of Aiken County, she was the daughter of the late Doby and Maggie Garvin Rish and the widow of Richard E. Bonnette, Sr. As a graduate of Wagener School, Miss Nancy attended Winthrop University. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wagener where she taught Sunday School for many years.
Miss Nancy was manager of the Wagener library for over 30 years. She was an avid reader and loved her many library patrons, taking great pride in choosing books that matched their personal interests. During the early years of Miss Nancy’s employment, the library was housed in numerous locations, including a one-room construction building and the town’s old jail. In 1988 Miss Nancy and her beloved books moved from the jail when a new library was built. The Wagener community honored her by naming their library, The Nancy Bonnette Library. “Today is a very special day in the life of this area,” she said in her dedication day speech. “This is a dream come true for our town.”
Surviving are her children Richard E. Bonnette, Jr. (Adele Gunter) of Columbia, Lynn Bonnette Bailey (Gary Rodrick) of Gainesville, FL, Gerry Bonnette (Jan King) of Columbia; grandchildren Richard E. Bonnette, III (JoAnn) of Silver Springs, MD, Angie Bonnette Lindsey (Wade) of Jacksonville, FL and Gene Bonnette Rodrick of Gainesville, FL; step-grandchildren Jeff Rodrick (Joan) of Alexandria, VA, and Mike Rodrick of Gainesville, FL; great-grandchildren Olivia and Nora Bonnette of Silver Springs and Cooper and Greyson Lindsey of Jacksonville and her sister, Vera Rish Keisler (Lamar) of Aiken.
Memorials may be made to The Nancy Bonnette Library, 204 Park St. N. E., Wagener, SC 29164 and the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 398, Wagener, SC 29164.
The family wishes to thank all the employees of NHC and Palmetto Hospice for the care provided to Miss Nancy and the compassion shown to her and family members.
Blizzard Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
