Irwillma Cornelias Jones was born Beatrice Williams on February 29, 1913 in Gadsden, Alabama. She was the eldest of three children.
She was educated in Bellbuckel, Tennessee during her elementary and most of her high school years. Her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri on Mother’s Day in 1928. She then finished her last year and graduated from Vashon High School. She enrolled in A and I College in Nashville, Tennessee and attended there for the next two years. She returned to St. Louis and married Mr. William Bonner in 1932.
She worked for the Pullman Company (at 21st and Market Street) until she retired in 1935 to go full time in the ministry.
When Evangelist Bonner moved to St. Louis, her family joined the Galilee Baptist Church until 1930. Evangelist Bonner joined 23rd and Delmar (now Bostick Temple) under the leadership of Dad Daniel Bostick. In the early 1950’s, she joined Lively Stone Church of God under the leadership of Bishop P. L. Scott. She was a Sunday School Teacher of the Adult Class, a member of the Missionary Department and the Women’s Auxiliary. She conducted an annual December Revival until 2004. There she served faithfully until her death.
National Evangelist I.C. Bonner was a great renowned evangelist, serving in the ministry for well over sixty years. She conducted many revivals throughout the country. Many were saved, filled with the Holy Ghost and received their healing through her ministry.
She led a life of continual fasting and praying into the early hours of morning, laying before God for the needs of the people. She has forever changed the lives of many evangelists, pastors, bishops and lay persons because of the awesome anointing that rested upon her life. She was a mentor and a good source of encouragement to all.
After ninety one years, and ten months, she took a much deserved rest to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
She leaves to cherish and to forever celebrate her memory, her loving brother, LaVoris Mickey Jones (Los Angeles, CA); three nieces, Robbie (Long Beach, CA), Roslyn (Wilmington,CA) and Rochelle(Torrance, CA); one nephew, LaVoris D. (Long Beach,CA); one great-nephew, Robbie J. Williams; one great-great nephew, Richard Nelson Reed III; a host of cousins, The Brame Family, The Ray Family and Coats Family; her very special friends in the gospel, all the saints, well wishers and friends. Her sister Robbie L. Jones and her mother Evangelist Beatrice Antione, both preceded her in death.