Obituary of Maria Elena Bonilla

Mrs. Maria Elena Bonilla Romero left this earth, and went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 19th 2018 at the Gulfside Center for Hospice Care in Zephyrhills, Florida. Maria was born on November 6th 1946 in Cerrito, Valle, Colombia to Jonas and Adelaida Romero. Maria was a graduate of the International Baptist Seminary in Cali, Colombia, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Christian Education. Maria was preceded in death by her beloved husband Reverend Jose Aldemar Bonilla. Maria is survived by her faithful daughter Lucy Bonilla Paulk and her husband Ronald Paulk, a sister Rosario Romero, a brother Isai Romero, several nieces and a nephew, and numerous cousins. Maria was a lifelong servant to her Lord Jesus Christ, and migrated to the United States with her husband and daughter in the 1970s. Maria served the Lord in Baptist churches in Texas, Maryland and Florida. Maria was actively involved in personal evangelism, and served in numerous Christian ministries to include: Campus Crusades for Christ, a member of a Christian music female sextet group, she served in numerous children’s ministries, music ministries, women’s ministries leader, Director of Hispanic Youth Ministry in Maryland (SBA). Maria loved music, and was a talented musician who played the accordion, piano, mandolin and guitar. Maria was a quiet and humble servant, and was loved and admired by many people across the world. Maria loved to sew and cook for her family and friends, was an avid gardener, and loved to care for her plants and flowers. A celebration of life service will be conducted for Maria in Colombia at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to one of the two listed charities: Brotherhood of Christian Law Enforcement Officers in Maria’s memory, through their website via Paypal at: BCLEO.US or via Mail at BCLEO P.O. Box 788, Panama City, FL. 32402. The BCLEO provides free bibles to Law Enforcement Officers around the nation and world, and free memorial bibles to all Law Enforcement Agencies which have an officer killed in the line of duty. Donations can also be made to: Gerizim Christian School, Charlie and Pat Reynolds Founders via mail in Maria’s memory at: P.O. Box 1351, Snyder, Texas 79550, or through their website via Paypal at: www.hisappointedtime.com. Gerizim Christian School provides a christian education, food and clothing to poor children in Chimaltenango, Guatemala.