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Bondurant Mae Richardson Smith Haley was a lady who didn’t give up. Throughout her life, and in her final years she was resilient. She was an artist, an animal lover, and was loved by many. Bonnie, 85, of Stoneville, NC, passed away Thursday, October 17th peacefully at her home with her son, Randal, by her side.
She was born in Henry County, VA to the late Rev. Roy T. Richardson and Jessie Ellen Richardson. She grew up the youngest of 5 and spent the first 10 years of her life in and out of the hospital with Osteomyelitis. She was a fighter from the beginning! In her 40’s she was widowed and reinvented herself. She learned to drive, got her GED, and attended RCC to obtain her CNA. She loved to boast that she was on the Dean’s List.
She worked for Morehead Hospital as well as, Martinsville Memorial Hospital until her retirement at 62. She knew how to live her best life! She loved to shop and look and smell good. In her late 50’s she married the late William Hoyt Haley. They loved to travel and were avid JOY groupers with FBC in Bassett, VA, where she remained a member until her illness in 2020.
Bonnie raised an amazing son, Randal, and two precious granddaughters that she loved “More than they’ll ever know”. She loved her animals, and one childhood cat that she mentioned often, “Antonio Grayling Valentino Liberace”. She was whimsical to say the least.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Roy T. Richardson and Jessie Ellen, her sisters Ida Ellen Deaton and Eva Lois Edwards, and her Brother Roy Thomas Richardson. She also lost two beloved Husbands, Coy Alton Smith and William Hoyt Haley. Her heart broke to lose so many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
She is survived by her son, Randal Fabian Smith, two granddaughters, Donna Rochelle Smith and Andrea Dawn Smith, and a extra grandson by proximity Eli Vestal. She is also survived by her very special sister, Jessie Leigh Murphy, and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Richardson, along with many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations for the non-profit “Beloved Asheville” to help families in Western NC.
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