Bonnie Polk was born in Saint Louis, Missouri to beloved parents, Shelby and Deloise Polk at Barnes Hospital on April 29, 1968. All of her other siblings were born at Homer G. Phillips.

Bonnie was born with a hole in her heart but Barnes had the best heart doctors. She had open heart surgery at only 3 months old and had to have it again a few years later. She was also born with Downs Syndrome. The doctors said she wouldn't live to see eleven. That was the first time I can remember my mother made us all get down on our knees and pray together as a family, and we actually witnessed God's greatness because Bonnie lived to be 57 years old.

Bonnie went to school at Gateway downtown. We grew up in Mid-City on Aldine Avenue between Sarah and Warne. Fun things about our childhood...its true, it takes a village, because on our block everybody's kids played together outdoors, indoors, mostly outdoors. The parents watched the other families kids as if they were their own. We had dances at each others houses on Saturdays, go to church across the street every Sunday, and afterwards to the Comet Theater or the Fox Theater. Remember Chain of Rock Park, so much fun swimming, the rides we rode them all and the picnics.

Bonnie loved to dance and had a real talent for it. Every dance I took her to, she was straight to the dance floor, not to a seat but straight to the dance floor. When she was at home she was in her favorite seat at the table watching her favorite station BET. But she really loved to go anywhere. Out to eat, shopping....she just loved to go.

She was a sweet child of God....as valued and treasured as any other child of God. She went to church with Mom on Sundays, she loved Gospel singing. Many nights when I prayed over Bonnie and she would give me that look, like a side eye look, like, what you talkin about, but sometimes her eyes would search mine and she would say Amen and Thank You Lord......and go to sleep.

She will forever be in my heart and soul.

Her Mom, Deloise and Dad, Shelby Sr. preceded her in death, also her brothers Tyrone, Shelby Jr. (Reddog) and Jeremiah. She left to cherish her memory; her sister, Brunnie Polk and brother, Joshua and wife, Constance; three aunts, Leatha, Osie and Ethel and their families; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces and great great nephews.