Bayne Ray Bonner

We are heartbroken and devastated to announce that our precious and incredibly Brave Bayne is now walking the streets of Heaven with our Lord and Savior. Bayne Ray Bonner, age 3, of Blakely, Ga., passed away in the early morning hours of June 2nd, 2023, surrounded by his loving parents.

Bayne was born on January 20, 2020, to Hayley Knight Bonner and Steven Christopher Bonner at UAB Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. Although Bayne was born with many struggles, he was always able to find a way to persevere while showing strength and resilience through every challenge that he faced. Everyone that had the honor of knowing Bayne, and even those he had never met, were inspired by his bravery and his love of life.

Bayne expressed a strong love for learning and a persistent curiosity of the world around him. Some of our favorite memories are watching Bayne sing and sign his ABCs. He loved to count backwards from 10 and yell “blast off” while his big brother, Hayes would jump off the couch. Bayne and Hayes absolutely adored each other, and enjoyed the time that they were able to spend together. Bayne would run to Hayes’ room each night and lay with him to watch TV and spend quality time together before bedtime.

Bayne loved spending every day with his Boobah (great grandmother June Jones), who would take him outside and chase him throughout the yard, allowing him to do exactly whatever his heart desired. Bayne would light up when his parents returned from work and could be heard from the front door yelling “mommyyy” and “daddyyy.” Bayne was obsessed with toy trucks, cars, tractors, and anything with wheels. He loved books, 5 Little Monkeys, music, and so much more. His favorite place to be was at home, spending quality time with his family riding the buggy or jumping on the trampoline with his brother, who considered Bayne to be his Hero.

Bayne was strong and courageous from the moment he entered this world to the moment he walked into the arms of Jesus. He truly lived every moment of his life to the fullest. Bayne was the true definition of brave.

In addition to his parents, Bayne is survived by his big brother, Christopher “Hayes” Bonner; his maternal grandparents, Kenneth and Jeana (Jones) Knight of Leesburg, Ga.; paternal grandmother Lenita Rogers of Coleman, Ga.; maternal great grandmother June Still Jones of Blakely, and paternal great grandmother Frances Montfort of Coleman.

He is preceded in death by his maternal great grandfather, Julius Jones, great grandparents Ray and Dot Knight and his paternal grandfather Robert Bonner.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at First Baptist Church located at 720 South Church Street, Blakely, GA 39823.

In lieu of flowers, the Bonner family is asking for any donations to be sent to Children’s of Alabama in his memory.