Bonnie E. Jividen

Bonnie Jividen’s life began in the outskirts of the small town of Chester, West Virginia. She was the second child and first daughter born to Theodore Roosevelt (T.R.) and Hattie Venita Reed Cunningham. T.R. supported the family by working in steel mills. The family grew to include eight children: Ronald, Bonnie, Paul, Gloria, Ted and then the triplets were born … Miriam, Marvin, and Margaret.

The Cunningham family lived in a two-story home with numerous apple trees to provide treats in the fall and cider through the winter months. This placed called home did not have indoor plumbing nor a heater. One of the two upstairs bedrooms was designated for the four boys and the other for the four girls. The children huddled together in bed to stay warm and were often lulled to sleep by the sounds of rain and wind on the tin roof.

Bonnie attended a small one-room schoolhouse with her siblings and some other children in the area. Walking to school in the cold winter months impacted her significantly. She graduated from Chester High School.

During her formative years, Bonnie attended a small country church with friends. It was at this church that she committed to a relationship with Jesus Christ and participated in the music program. The decision she made to follow Christ was a life-long commitment. Her relationship with Jesus changed the trajectory of her life and became the catalyst for her impact on untold numbers of people.

As the oldest daughter in the family, many of the household tasks became her responsibility because of her mother’s health issues. Bonnie made time to participate in the local 4-H program where she continued to develop domestic skills.

After graduating from high school, her first job was with a local men’s retail clothing store. After this she worked for Montgomery Wards and began her training and skills development in the credit department.

As God’s providence directed, Bonnie was invited to attend the Church of the Nazarene in Newell, West Virginia with a friend. Floyd and Retha Jividen and their family of three boys and one girl lived just down the street from the church and were active members. It was during these church visits that Bonnie was introduced to Harold L. Jividen. Their relationship grew quickly and included an introduction to pecan pie and pizza. Harold and Bonnie fell in love and realized they were meant to be together. So, on May 20, 1954, they were united in marriage at the Nazarene church where they had met.

One year later their family began to grow with the birth of Brenda. Two years after that Nancy was born and then four years later Lee (Harold L. Jividen II) was born. Not long after this Bonnie & Harold moved their family of five from West Virginia all the way to California for a job opportunity. Two years later they decided better opportunities existed in Florida, so once again they packed up the family and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.

Bonnie stayed busy raising her children and being actively involved with the Nazarene Church. She was always known as an extremely great cook and was especially known for her homemade noodles and a wide assortment of pies.

As her children got older, she took on outside jobs. Her career included retail store credit departments, church secretary, floral designer, and she also became a loan officer at the Pinellas County Employees Federal Credit Union. Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to become a representative and manager for Jafra Cosmetics. A love for helping people and her creative spirit afforded her great success in everything she touched.

Bonnie’s relationship with Jesus and serving the church was of upmost importance. She became one of the charter members of Kenneth City Church of the Nazarene where she held numerous positions. Later she transitioned to Pinellas Park Wesley Church, and became very involved in the music ministry’s elaborate productions and the women’s ministry program known as L.I.F.T.

To know Bonnie was to love Bonnie! She was fun-loving, a true bargain-shopper, always creating centerpieces or door wreaths and focused on the needs of others. She also maintained a close relationship with her siblings even though they were separate by many miles.

Her husband, Harold and three children adored her and knew they were loved by her in return. She was a gift-giver and expressed love through her generosity.

The story of Bonnie would not be complete without expressing her passion for anything green! Her home décor, personal clothing and jewelry choices had a common thread … an abundance of green!

Creativity flowed from Bonnie and was expressed through sewing, floral design, crocheting and much more. She created many beautiful Afghans for everyone she loved. The hundreds of hours she spent crocheting was a true labor of love.

Bonnie was the mother of three as mentioned earlier: Brenda Baird is married to Willard Baird. Nancy Dodd is married to Randy Dodd, and Lee Jividen is married to Ann Gordan. Bonnie has six grandchildren: Tyler Dodd (married to Carla), Tyson Dodd (married to Jessica), Wesley Baird (married to Jamie), Victoria Baird, Austin Jividen (partner to Bailey) and Winston Jividen. She also has three great-grandchildren: Levi Baird, Declan Baird, and Miles Jividen.

Bonnie’s legacy and impact on not only her family, but so many others will live on forever. She lived a faithful Christian life and served both her family and Lord. She was a woman of prayer and scripture. Proverbs 31:30 describes her well, “a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

On June 17, 2021, at the age of 91, Bonnie passed peacefully on to her eternal home in heaven with heavenly Father. She will be dearly missed, but her impact and memory will be with us forever. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” - Psalm 116:15.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st Street, Seminole, FL 33776 / 727-391-0121.