Bonnie Nell (Brown) Stults

Bonnie Nell Stults, 84, passed away Tuesday, August 10th, in Mishawaka, Indiana with her daughters by her side.  Bonnie was born April 27, 1937, in Wayne County, Tennessee, to Bill and Elsie (nee Rich) Brown.   She played basketball in high school until she was injured and decided to give up her athletic career.  She married Ledford Stults in 1954 and they moved to Indiana in 1956.  In 1958 Ledford founded and was the first pastor of what is now known as South Side General Baptist Church in Mishwaka.  She stood by his side through all his years of doing God's work.  She supported Ledford, and the entire church, by helping anywhere she was needed.  She sometimes did things that no one ever saw, but she knew, and was always willing to do it without praise or accolades.  She especially had a soft spot for all the children.  She loved it when her great grandchildren and great- great grandchildren would visit.  She always wanted to hug on them. 

She is survived by her three daughters, Deborah Benson (Steve) and Patricia Williams (Darby) of South Bend and Teresa Monroe (Tim) of Mishawaka; six grandchildren, Lee Benson, Caren Hoover, Jamie Cocanower, Lanell Holcomb, Meredith Newland and Shanell Perez-Roberts; 18 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Bennie Paul Brown of Mishawaka, and Betty Sue Berry and Martha Wilson of Tennessee; and a host of nieces and nephews and treasured friends.  She was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband Ledford Stults, parents Bill and Elsie Brown, siblings Billie Ruth Staggs, Bobby Brown, Robbie Jane McFalls, Rodney Brown, Jerry Brown and grandson Joshua Monroe. 

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the 12:00 pm funeral service on Thursday, August 12, 2021, at South Side General Baptist Church, 1615 S. Spring Street, Mishawaka, Indiana 46544.  Cruz Family Funeral Home of Osceola is assisting with the arrangements.

She held a few jobs, but she was mainly a stay-at-home mom.  She was always the fun mom of the neighborhood.  Her home was the home all the neighborhood kids gathered at.  She had no problem getting right in there with them and being silly, and they loved her for it.  You could always find her in the yard taking care of her flowers.  She had beautiful flowers inside and outside her home and she took great pride in caring for them.  The last year of her life she became very close with her little companion dog, Ivy.  Ivy has watched over her and become very protective of her during her final days.  Ivy is going to be lost without her.  Bonnie Nell quietly touched people's lives her entire time here on earth.  Her caring spirit and loving nature will be greatly missed. 

The family would like to give a special thanks to Nurse Ron, from The Center for Hospice Care, for his care and kindness of her and the family during her last days on this earth. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Hospice Care or South Side General Baptist Church. To share a story of Bonnie’s life, light a virtual candle in her memory, or leave a message of condolence for the Stults family, please follow the links provided on the tribute wall tab above.

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