James
Our beloved mother, Lavon “Bonnie” Maxine (McKnight) James, longtime resident of San Antonio, from hometown Milano, passed on to be with her Lord and entered into eternal rest on Nov. 30, 2023, at the age of 83.
She was born on July 13, 1940, in Rockdale.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dan E. McKnight, and mother, Opal Janie (Dennis) McKnight, of Milano; brother Dan D. McKnight; beloved granddaughter Aimee Lenhart; and former husband, Robert James.
She is survived by beloved sister Virginia McKnight; children Kathryn Lenhart and son-in-law Carl Lenhart, Mark James and daughter-in-law Olga James, Damon James, and Laura James; grandchildren Ashley James, Camden James, Angelina James, Sarah Stegall, Zackary Stegall; and two great-grandsons, Landen Ostrander and Szen Bonahoom.
Mom was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother (“Nana”), strong in spirit, always forgiving, compassionate, caring and gave gentle guidance based on love.
She enjoyed preparing family meals, baking, family, genealogy, gardening, her pets, collecting rocks, music and dancing. Mom also enjoyed long walks on the beach and road trips back to her roots.
Mom started her nursing career in the late 1950’s at Santa Rosa hospital in San Antonio. Devoted to healing, she dedicated the rest of her nursing career as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) while compassionately caring for residents living within the nursing home communities throughout San Antonio.
A special thank you to Mom’s best friend and companion, Mr. Roger Sepulveda, and her caretakers, Sandra Sanchez and Paulette of Advanced Rehab & Healthcare of Live Oak.
In some of her final moments, Mom expressed how much she had always loved all of us, and her love and faith in Jesus. With the bluest eyes and sweetest smile, she will forever be etched in our hearts and be deeply missed by all who loved, appreciated, and admired the special person that she was.
Visitation will be held on Dec. 11, at Baptist Temple Church, 901 E. Drexel in San Antonio, from 12-noon to 3 p.m., with services provided by Funeral Caring USA. Interment will be held on Dec. 12 at Milano Cemetery, North Fifth St. in Milano, at 12-noon. Flowers may be sent to the Baptist Temple Church ‘chapel’ starting at 10 a.m. on Dec. 11.