Thomas B. Bonner

WB Thomas Bryant Bonner - 1893, 1896, 1914-17

Meet WB Thomas Bryant Bonner, physician, politician, and businessman.

Thomas Bonner was born on March 24, 1862 in South Carolina, to REV Bryant Bonner, Jr., and Hannah M. Foster Bonner. His father passed away when Thomas was fourteen. While finishing his primary education, he worked as a farmer, bookkeeper, and teacher, saving his money for his medical training.

Thomas Bonner lived in Hartwell from 1883 until 1886, where served as Mayor for a time.

Thomas Bonner relocated to Lavonia and, in 1888, joined the Baptist Church. He helped locate the building that was first used by the Church (Williams, Marie Haley, Lavonia: Gem of the Piedmont, 1880-1977.)

On February 28, 1890 (the second meeting of Lavonia Lodge, still under dispensation), Thomas Bryant Bonner became the first man to submit a Petition for the Degrees of Masonry. He was Initiated on March 14, 1890, Passed on April 11, 1890, and Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on April 25, 1890; the first Candidate for each of the Degrees in our Lodge.

He graduated in the 1892 class at Southern Medical College in Atlanta (now Emory University) and opened his practice in Lavonia in 1892, according to A Standard History of Georgia and Georgians (Vol. 4). Dr. Bonner was a member of the American Medical Association, the Georgia State Medical Society (President, 1915), and frequent contributor for numerous medical periodicals and journals. (see photo of clipping from “The Medical Brief, A Monthly Journal of Scientific Medicine and Surgery,” Vol 22).

WB Bonner was elected and installed as Master of Lavonia Lodge No. 241, F&AM, for 1893 and was re-elected to serve in this position in 1896, 1914-1917, and 1919.

WB Bonner served as the Mayor of Lavonia in 1910 (Lavonia: Gem of the Piedmont), and was elected in November 1914 to the Georgia State Senate for the 1915-1916 term (Franklin County Historical Society, History of Franklin County). He was also on the Board of Directors for the Bank of Lavonia.

In addition to his membership in Lavonia Lodge No. 241, F&AM, he was a member of the Order of Heptasophs (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Heptasophs), was thought to be a member of the Order of the Knights of Pythias (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knights_of_Pythias), and was a member (and either Grand Master of the Tugalo Division, based on documentary evidence from the Lodge; Grand Master, according to his headstone; or both) of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

WB Bonner was married to Sarah Leila Sewell, daughter of L.D. and E.J. Sewell, and had two children; Miss Flora Bonner and Mr. Herbert Hawthorne Bonner (later a member of Lavonia Lodge No. 241).

WB Thomas Bryant Bonner laid down his working tools on April 10, 1931, and was buried beside his wife in the Lavonia-Burgess City Cemetery.