Obituary of Bonnie Acker Johnson

Bonnie Elizabeth Acker Johnson, 63, of Roanoke, passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2024, at Piedmont Hospital in Newnan, GA.

Bonnie was born on December 28, 1961. She was the youngest of three children born to Bill and Joy Acker. She joked with her two older brothers, Lee and Mike, that her parents finally got it right with her. Bonnie was very close to her mom and dad. She was the baby, after all. Bill was the perfect image of what a man should be and an even better father. Joy was an angel sent by God himself. As a child, Bonnie loved her Barbie, playing house at Granny Strickland’s playhouse, and most of all, spending time with family. Her fondest memories were at the family’s lake house on Jackson Lake. Bonnie’s favorite times were always on the water, whether it be swimming, skiing or relaxing and getting a tan on a float with a drink in her hand.
Bonnie had a strong bond with her many cousins, always trying to get out of trouble from all the fun they had. Phyllis in particular was a cousin by blood but a sister by heart.
Bonnie and Phyllis were inseparable and joined at the hip. They were enrolled in ballet and toe but their favorite was jazz. Later in life, married with children and even 60 miles apart from each other, they were always together. Phyllis was Bonnie’s best friend until the very end.

Bonnie met her husband Steve in the early 80’s. They married in 1984 and completed their house in 1987. In 1990 they brought home Brittany, who was a built in mini to Bonnie. In 1997 they had their second daughter Taylor, who brought the spunk and completed the family. The four of them could be found on any given weekend at the race track hoping Steve’s hobby would eventually be a productive.

Bonnie always had Brittany and Taylor with her. They enjoyed going to the movie theater, shopping, spending time at Jackson Lake, , making a pallet in the floor at home to watch scary movies or just spending time in the yard. Bonnie loved to cut some grass, she said it was therapeutic. Probably because Brittany and Taylor couldn’t do that with her. She enjoyed planting flower beds, tending to the garden, and collecting pecans from under the pecan tree. If Bonnie was anywhere, she was probably outside.

It cannot go with mentioning Bonnie’s special friend Denise. Denise and Bonnie were two peas in a pod. They both shared a love for the water, a shot of patron, and theirchildren. Let the “good times roll” would definitely be their theme song. They brought the party wherever they were.

Bonnie kept the roads hot. Miles were no match for her. On several occasions she would coordinate a day trip to the beach- just to sit by the water for a day. Steve would complain that she had more sets of tires replaced than he had pairs of pants in his life time. Many of those miles were to get back to her mama, Joy. Joy and Bonnie became the best of friends in Bonnie’s adult life. Joy had Bonnie’s back for all of life. Good, bad, or indifferent.

Bonnie had a heart bigger than the world itself. If she had it to give, and sometimes even if she didn’t- she gave it. She opened her home to many family, friends, and animals through the years.

Bonnie retired in 2006 from work to take care of Steve full time who was permanently disabled after a drag racing accident.. If you knew Steve, this was no easy task. Steve’s prognosis was dim but with the help of Bonnie advocating to bring him back home, he progressed back to being the lovable asshole we all knew him to be before the accident. Their relationship was comical at times but ultimately they were made for each other.

Bonnie’s grandson was born August 12, 2022. He brought her so much joy. She always said he was “so pretty” and enjoyed coloring and picking at him.

When Steve’s health declined to the point Bonnie could not manage her own health and his, they begrudgingly accepted they would be separated. While Bonnie’s health would decline, her mind would remain in the same state of the young, adventurous Bonnie. Her body was not repairing and she would not accept that she could not do the things that she loved to. Steve passed in January of 2024 and that would start the end for Bonnie.

On Feb 2nd 2025, she entered Piedmont Hospital for what would be her last hospital stay. Bonnie was tired, and only asked her two daughters that she be comfortable. She requested Phylis and her grandson Caldon to come see her. She wanted one last hot brown from Truetts. Bonnie loved fun and lived for the party, but in those last waking moments at the hospital, she turned down a shot of fireball. This marked the first and only time Bonnie was not up for a “good time”.

The world is a little dimmer without Bonnie but her mark on this world is undeniable.

Bonnie’s final request was to go back to Lake Jackson. The family will host a memorial service at a later date when she is returned to the place she loved the most.

Survivors include: two daughters, Brittany Cook (Jonathon) and Taylor Johnson, both of Roanoke; and one grandchild, Caldon Tuff Cook; sister-in-law, Sandra “Sandy” Acker; two nephews, Christopher Acker (Autumn) and Jonathan Acker (Kristen); 3 great nephews and a great niece; several cousins ; A special sister, Phyllis Strickland Reinig and special niece Brandi Jones and Brandi’s two daughters.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stephen “Steve” Martin Johnson and two brothers, Jeffrey Lee Acker and Michael “Mike” Dorn Acker.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Quattlebaum Funeral Home to assist with final expenses.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.quattlebaumfuneralhome.com