Bonnie J. Jordan

A funeral service celebrating the life of Bonnie J. Jordan, age 92, of Columbus, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 24, at Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Service with Pastor Clifton Kilpatrick officiating. Burial will follow in Maple Grove Cemetery in Granville.

Friends may call from 10-11 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home, 179 Granville Street in Newark.

Bonnie was born February 16, 1933 in Zanesville, Ohio to the late John and Leila L. (Norris) Payton. She passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at her home.

Bonnie was a 1951 graduate of Lash High School in Zanesville. In 1987, at the age of 53, she attended Central Ohio Technical College. She received an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration in 1993 and also received the Outstanding Academic Achievement Award from COTC. She retired from the Newark Air Force Base where she had worked in the Clean Room and in Business Administration.

An active member of St. Paul AME Church in Zanesville, Bonnie gave her life to Christ at the age of 12 and went on to be a member of St. Paul for over 80 years. She held many positions in the church including the Grace Palmer Missionary Society, where she served as President, the Steward Board, and the Inspirational Choir. She was also a Stewardess as well as held many other positions in the church. On December 26, 2011 she received a plaque of recognition for her dedication to the church. She loved taking pictures, bowling (winning several awards), and working with her flowers outdoors. She absolutely loved to decorate for Christmas and won 1st place for 2 years in a row when she lived in Heath.

She is survived by two daughters, Marla L. Burley-Spencer of Columbus and Felicia Burley-Gilbert (William C. Gilbert, Jr.) of Columbus; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 9 great-great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers, Leonard “Tony” (Carolyn) Payton of Heath, James “Jim” (Beth) Payton of Texas, Terry Payton, Florence Fields, and Sheri (Kevin) Hampton, all of Zanesville; many nieces, nephews, and special friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Earl Jordan, on September 19, 1995; a son, Ronald Burley; a daughter, Roxanne Burley; a grandson, William “Billy” Gilbert; siblings, Elizabeth, John, Richard, and Arthur Payton, Sheila Kennedy, and Janet Miller; and her beloved dog “Bud”.

Memorial contributions may be made to Gentiva Hospice.

Criss Wagner Hoskinson Funeral Home is honored to care for Bonnie and her family.