Bonnie Beard Carter was born August 10, 1907. Her mother said she learned to walk and talk by the time she was nine months old and never stopped. By the time Bonnie had reached the fifth grade she had decided she wanted to be a teacher. That dream became a reality in September 1927 when she went to Roganville to teach the 4th and 5th grades for $85.00 a month. She taught 43 years in the same school district before retiring. She loved teaching and often said that she felt this was the way of serving her God and influencing the lives of many youth. Everyone liked to hear her talk about the many experiences she had teaching through the years. While teaching in Roganville she met James D.L. Carter whom she later married. When they went to be married the preacher was sick and in bed. So they were married at the bedside of Rev. Lawrence Landrum at 3:00 p.m. on Dec. 24, 1928. They had three daughters and one son. Bonnie loved flowers and gardening. When they moved to Rayburn Country she joined the local garden club and won several first place ribbons. She was very active in the Methodist Church where ever she lived. She held many different offices, taught Sunday School and was always in the thick of the work at the church. Many a pastor and family was welcomed into her home. She will always be remembered for her loving and kind spirit. Bonnie liked to camp and travel with her children and grandchildren. She traveled through all fifty states, several foreign countries and took several cruises with them. She is survived by a brother, Pat Beard of Silsbee; a sister, Blanche Richardson of Kirbyville; her children, Jeannine Batchelor of Beaumont; Bonnie Lou Westbrook of Lantana, TX; J. Paul Carter of Whitney, TX; and Linda L. Christian of Spring, TX; 8 grandchildren, 10 great granchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19, 2008 at Adams EE Stringer Funeral Home in Kirbyville, Texas.