Bonnie Kay Harkness

Bonnie Kay Harkness died on April 24, 2025, at her home in Bethesda, Maryland. She was predeceased by her parents, James and Georgia Harkness. She is survived by her children, Katherine Harkness Rogers (husband Ash Raghavan), Elizabeth Harkness Rogers (husband Luke Coulson), David Harkness Rogers, pups, Zoe and Scout, her sister, C. Joy Harkness, and her brother, Scott Lane Harkness.

Bonnie was born and reared in Mississippi. She graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1976 with a B.A. in psychology, sociology, and philosophy. While at Ole Miss she served as Chapter President of Delta Gamma sorority, served in the Campus Senate, was President of Mortar Board, was a Campus favorite, and was in the Ole Miss Hall of Fame. She graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1979. She practiced as a Trust and Estate Lawyer in Jackson, Mississippi before moving to Washington, D.C. in 1981 where she worked as a staff attorney for Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran, even though he was a Republican. Bonnie worked on the Hill managing banking, taxes, housing, and Indian Affairs until the birth of her daughter, Katie.

The following 25 years were spent being an incredible mother to Katie, Betsy and Davy while continuing her lifetime of community service. She was a Girl Scout leader and volunteered in the schools leading the Book Fair, the Sock Hop, and other events, and at “So Others Might Eat.” Once her children left the nest, she began working at Crossway Community, a skill building and residential living program for economically disadvantaged single mothers and their children. While at Crossway Community, she wrote the application for the first charter school in Montgomery County. Bonnie also served on the Board of Hope for Children, a non-profit dedicated to supporting the education and welfare of children whose parents were affected by AIDS and poverty.

In 2012, while living in Chicago, Bonnie served on the Board of “Save Abandoned Babies,” a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness of the safe, legal options under the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Upon her return to Bethesda, Bonnie began working with Impact 100 DC, serving as Chair of the Family Focus Area Committee for two years leading the committee that reviewed grants in that category. Thereafter Bonnie served as the Grantee Liaison, building strong relationships between Impact 100 DC and its grantee organizations. She was currently serving as president of Wednesday Morning Group, a weekly program of lectures on a wide array of topics from current events and literature to science and health, to arts and education.

In her spare time, Bonnie was an avid reader, an accomplished pianist, a crossworder extraordinaire, and a player of Mahjong. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, her generous compassion, and her devotion to her family and to her many friends.

A memorial service will be held on May 1, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, LLC, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20016.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Impact 100 DC, Post Office Box, 40121, Washington, D.C. 20016 or [email protected].