Bonny  Backstrom  Bruce passed away on Wednesday, August 12,2020, at her home in Vicksburg, MS.  She was born on December 7, 1923, in Columbus, MS, to Lillian Gregory P'pool Backstrom and William Forest Backstrom.  Bonny was one of ten children, and two of her sisters, Nancy Buchanan (age 98) and Olive Dollar (age 92) are still living.  Bonny graduated Mississippi State College for Women with a B.S. in Elementary Education, and she later graduated from Alcorn University with a Masters in Education.  She was a classroom teacher in Columbus and Vicksburg for 30 years.

After  her retirement from teaching, Bonny joined the Vicksburg Lions Club.  Each Wednesday, at the weekly meetings, she would entertain the club members by playing classical and jazz music on the piano.  For her 20 years of service to the club, she was made a Melvin Jones Fellow.

Bonny and William F. "Sonny" Bruce were married in 1943, and they lived in Columbus, MS, with their two children, Barbara (Applebaum) and David, until 1966 when they moved to Vicksburg.  Bonny was preceded in death by her husband and son.  Bonny is survived by her daughter and grandson, Chad Applebaum, his wife, and two great-grandchildren.

The family wants to thank all of the wonderful people who helped take care of Bonny, with special thanks to Stephanie Scott and Jasmine Brown.  Due to the current health situation, a memorial service will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bonny's name may be made to the St. Jude Research Hospital or the Hinds Community College Foundation in the William F."Sonny" Bruce Memorial Scholarship, P.O.Box 1100, Raymond, MS, 39154-1100.