Mrs. Melinda Jean (Bradford) Bonniwell, 56, of Hacksneck died on Feb. 4, 2024, as the result of a house fire. She was born Aug. 29, 1967. She was the daughter of the late Jacqueline Marie (Adkins) White and John Richard “Boob” Bradford.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her stepfather, Newtown White, brother, William White, her maternal grandparents, William and Edna Adkins, and her paternal grandparents, Beulah and Dora Bradford.
Melinda graduated from Parkside High School in 1985. She attended Eastern Shore Community College. She held several jobs during her lifetime. The most recent was as a tax preparer for H & R Block. She loved to read and cook, a skill she learned from her great-grandmother Doris. She spent many weekends with her aunt Cammy, with whom she shared a sisterly bond.
Surviving Ms. Bonniwell are her son, Matthew Layfield, and daughter, Danielle Bonniwell, both of Hacksneck. She also leaves behind her aunts, Jean Bennett, of Salisbury, Md., and Cammy Biser (Tim), of Smithsburg, Md.; an uncle, Richard Adkins, of Delmar, Md,; two nephews, William and Shawn White; and a niece, Cora Barton. She will be missed by her friend, Diane Bradford, of Theodosia, Miss., with whom she enjoyed long phone conversations.
There will be a celebration of life for Ms. Bonniwell on Sunday, March 17, at 2 p.m., at Harborton United Methodist Church, located at 28152 Harborton Road, Harborton, VA. The Rev. Kendra Powell will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to pay funeral expenses. They can be sent to Matthew Layfield, 12190 Hacksneck Road, Hacksneck, VA 23358.
Arrangements were handled by JL Davis Funeral Home, Smithsburg, Md. Cremation services were provided by Commonwealth Funeral Service of Richmond.
