Mercedes Marie Bonner, a woman of deep faith, artistic brilliance, and quiet strength, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2025, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She was 79 years old.

Born on September 21, 1945, in Durham, North Carolina, Mercedes was the beloved daughter of Ms. Geneva Y. Jacobs, now 101 years old, and the late Dr. George Wallace Jacobs. She was raised with strong values of education, service, and compassion, graduating from Jefferson High School in Long Island, New York.

Mercedes dedicated her professional life to the medical field, working as a Medical Technologist Manager. She served with distinction at Duke Hospital for over 16 years and later in a private medical practice in Chapel Hill for 22 years. There, she not only provided excellent patient care but also played a vital role in mentoring and training physician assistants, leaving a lasting impact on future generations of healthcare professionals. Patients often requested her by name, drawn to her skillful hands and calming presence.

In a remarkable act of determination, Mercedes returned to North Carolina Central University at the age of 50 to complete her undergraduate studies, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Political Science. It was a personal milestone that reflected her lifelong commitment to growth and education.

To her friends and loved ones, she was simply “Mercy” a name she embraced and embodied. Her grace and compassion touched every space she entered. An artist through and through, Mercy painted, sculpted, wrote, sang, and performed with passion and authenticity. Her visual art was exhibited across North Carolina and Virginia, and her remarkable voice enriched both church choirs and local stages. She was a cherished cast member of Black Nativity Durham, where she joyfully blended her love for faith and performance.

Beyond her artistic and professional accomplishments, Mercedes lived a vibrant, multidimensional life. She was a lifelong Bible scholar, a devoted gardener, a spirited softball player in her younger years, and a lover of music in all its forms. Her intellect was keen, her heart generous, and her joy contagious.

Eighteen months before her passing, Mercedes experienced a beautiful new chapter: she married Dr. Mack Bonner, the love of her life. Their marriage was a testament to the power and timelessness of love, full of adventure, laughter, tenderness, and unwavering devotion. She often spoke of their bond as a divine gift and embraced every moment of their time together with gratitude and wonder.

Mercedes’s greatest source of pride and joy was her family. She is survived by her beloved husband, Dr. Mack Bonner; her devoted daughters, Renee Y. McAllister, Lori A. Williams, and Nicole K. Johnson; her cherished grandchildren, Michael Williams (Ana), Marc Thompson, Tanesha Jones (Christian), Amber Thompson, Philip Williams, David Noah Thompson, IV and DahliaMarie Douglas; and her adored great-grandchildren, Marcus Mullen, Mila Jones, Jade Williams, Jalil Jones, and Cairo Alexander Jones.

She also leaves behind her extended family, including her cherished stepdaughters: Leigh Ryland of New Jersey; Lara Millar of Virginia Beach, Virginia; and Sara Hughes of London, United Kingdom.

To know Mercedes was to witness grace in motion. She lived her life in full color, with integrity, warmth, and a boundless creativity that inspired all who knew her.

A celebration of her extraordinary life will be held on Tuesday, June 24, at 1:00 PM, at Immanuel Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church in Durham, North Carolina.

Please make checks payable and mail to: NCCU Foundation, Inc., 1801 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC, 277077; please write on the memo line "Mercedes M. Bonner Endowment ". For online giving, please visit https://www.nccu.edu/institutional-advancement/giving-online. Add the Mercedes M. Bonner Endowment in the comment section.