Charles "Butch" Bonner

Mr. Charles “Butch” Bonner, 67, left his earthly home in Jackson, Georgia for his Heavenly home on Friday, July 19, 2013, after a valiant 17-month battle with lung cancer. He was born and grew up in Griffin, Georgia, graduated from Griffin High School in 1964, and for the next 25 years owned and operated Atlanta Fire Extinguisher Sales and Service, Inc. with his step-father, Robert Martin. In 1989, he sold the business and retired to Lake Hartwell, Georgia, where his entrepreneurial spirit remained alive. There he built and operated Long Point Boat Storage, and became such an accomplished striper fishermen that he started his own fishing guide service. But everything was not all work, for he and his wife traveled all of the United States extensively and cruised the waters of the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii. He remarked constantly that “God has already blessed me with a full and wonderful life.” In March, 2009, they moved to Lake Jackson to be near his then elderly parents and other family members, and there joined a wonderful church, Heart and Soul Christian Center, where they were immediately embraced and loved. In his final days, he was intent on telling everyone, “My faith has not wavered. I claimed healing from this cancer by the stripes of Jesus Christ. If God chooses not to do it in this life, then, on the other side I’ll have a brand, new body- and that’s the ultimate healing!” He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carroll Albury Bonner; son Jason Bonner; son Brian Albury; grandson Noah Albury; granddaughter Michela Albury; mother Sara Ellen Martin; brother Carey Martin; sister Jane Bobo; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 27, from 2:00 until 3:30 PM and funeral services will be held at 4:00 PM in the Chapel at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home, 1891 West McIntosh Road, Griffin, Georgia. Telephone 770-227-2300. Reverend Mike Burge will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation in Mr. Bonner’s memory to Heart and Soul Christian Center, 722 Macon Avenue, Jackson, GA 30233.