Bonnie Jean (Pilgrim) Nowell entered into the joy prepared for her on May 28, 2021. Heaven's glorious gain is only tempered by our family's loss of our Powerful Matriach, Prayer Warrior, Precious Memory-Maker, and Living Example of how to live and love. Born in 1927, she grew up in the Union, MS area in a meager farming community. She always said that they did not know anything about The Great Depression because it seemed like it was always hard times where she grew up. She went right to work after high school, married young to Bill Nowell, and mothered three children, Joyce, Jerry, and Mike. Her sisters called her "the bell cow" because she was such a natural leader and so easily commanded the respect of her family, church, community, and workplaces. A lifelong Jacksonion and Northsider, she was named North Jackson's Best Citizen in 1969 by The Northside Sun.
She worked an entire career with BellSouth. After 27 years as a sales and service representative, she retired from "Ma Bell", still a young woman. She seemed to constantly win top sales awards, a surprise to no one, because people just always loved her, as she loved them. At her retirement ceremony, where she was presented with The BellSouth Lifetime Sales Award, the regional manager of BellSouth said "If Bonnie sold you a jar of Mississippi Mud, she would have you walking away whistling a tune over the great deal you just got on it!" He was complimenting her sales skills, but everyone who knew her knows it was her PEOPLE skills that were unmatched. She was a great listener and many confided in her and were blessed by her wisdom and kind presence.
In 1980, she began a second full career as a sales manager and director of an independent distribution company, marketing health and beautry products from her home for the Shaklee Corporation, a Fortune 500 Company. She was the perfect living example of healthy and beautiful living, and of the products she sold and used personally. She was so full of joy, energy, youth, and vitality. She enjoyed 93 strong years, loved her family, her Lord, gatherings, socializing, church functions, wedding planning, gardening, cooking, mentoring, and teaching etiquette. She was the conduit of so many connections of others, and her contributions to the world around her are too many to mention. Mrs. Bonnie was one of those people that everyone seemed to know and love. She was a mover and a shaker. She made things happen. She seemed to be the star of every show, the planner of every wedding, the trustee of so many estates, and the faithful friend for every need. If every grieving person who ever received a 7up pound cake from her were to come to her funeral, the building could not contain them all.
She was a great advisor to younger women. Her advice to other women was to choose work you love, to love God and to love people. She would gather younger women at her home and teach them manners and etiquette.
She was a woman of faith. She was a living witness of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Her favorite expression was "You can't outgive God, and you can't outlove people." Her life was an example of the truth of that statement.
Visitation will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home, 6011 Clinton Blvd, Jackson, MS 39209, on Tuesday, June 1 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. On Wednesday, a visitation will be held at Christway Church, 1501 Old Fannin Rd, Flowood, MS 39232, from 1:00 to 2:00 PM with the funeral service beginning at 2:00 PM. There will be a reception for family and friends following the service at River Hills Club, 3600 Ridgewood Rd, Jackson, MS 39211.
Please visit lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for the online guestbook.
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