Carol H Handy Bonner Baker

Carol H Baker, 79, of Burlington, NC passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC. Born in Burlington, NC on August 26, 1944, she was the daughter of Jasper E. Handy and Hortense Roney Handy. She is predeceased by her parents, her brothers, Donald P. Handy and Garland Handy, her first husband, Allan B Bonner Jr, second husband Walter Terry Baker, and 20 year partner Marion Douglas Stacey.

She is survived by her three children Kathryn C Bonner (Tracey), Allan B Bonner III (Lisa), and Christine B Bonner Betts (Jim), granddaughter Ashley Bonner, and grandsons James Betts and Christopher Betts. She is also survived by her brothers Ernest Handy and Franklin Handy, cousin Brenda Godwin Esposito, as well as numerous loving nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces/nephews.

After graduating from Williams High School in 1962, Carol married Allan Bonner and began raising her family in Durham, NC. While in high school she wanted to become a nurse and afterwards always found employment in the health profession sector. Beginning in the 1960’s, she worked as a surgical admissions secretary at UNC Memorial Hospital in Chapel Hill. While there, she often volunteered her services as an American Sign Language interpreter to hearing impaired patients. After moving to the Hickory area in the early 1980’s, she worked at Catawba Memorial Hospital in the AHEC professional library department. And, once back in Alamance County in 1999, she worked with Alamance Elder Care until her retirement in 2011. Throughout her professional life she received numerous certificates and awards for outstanding/distinguished service and achievements in serving and supporting her clients and the community.

Once retired, she continued to serve her community by volunteering at Authoracare Hospice thrift stores and the Salvation Army thrift store and food bank until 2016.

As much as Carol enjoyed serving others, there was never any doubt that her first love was FAMILY and friends. Once she met you, you were a friend for life. Everyone would agree that she never met a stranger. She enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards, was a huge UNC basketball fan and NASCAR fan.

On this side of Heaven, she will be profoundly missed. She is a heavenly star that will shine brightly on us forever more.

A Visitation will be held at Carolina Christian Church (2030 Carolina Rd, Burlington, NC) on February 24 at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Memorial Service at 12:00 noon. A brief graveside service will be held at Alamance Memorial Park (4039 S Church St. Burlington, NC) following the Memorial Service.

Flowers can be delivered to McClure Funeral Home in Graham no earlier than Feb 23.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alamance County Salvation Army or the Williams High School Class of ‘62 Scholarship (Make checks payable to Alamance Community College. In memo section memorial for Carol Baker, WHS Class of ‘62. Mail donation to Carolyn Rhode at ACC, 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd, Graham, 27253)