Bonnie Lee Arnett

Bonnie Lee Arnett passed away peacefully on June 23rd at Indian River
Memorial Hospital in Vero Beach, Florida after a long battle with leukemia.
Bonnie is survived by her husband Carl; her children Tracy (m. Mark),
Debbie (m. Anthony), Sandie, Richard Jr. (m. Andreia), and Erin; her
siblings Joan, Patricia (m. Glenn), Lendo Jr. (m. Angela), and Bobby; and
her grandchildren Shawnee (m. Eduardo), Samantha, Kevin, Vanessa, Julianna,
Kara, Jonathan, Jessyka, Cristian, Nikolas, Shawn, and Christopher.

Bonnie was born on October 15, 1949 at Sibley Memorial Hospital in
Washington D.C. to Lendo Sweatt Sr., son of Robert Lee and May Leviner
Sweatt, and Evelyn Sweatt, daughter of Charles Leslie and Minnie Fletcher.
Bonnie spent her childhood on the various military bases where her father
was stationed. She was surrounded by love as the middle child with two
older sisters and two younger brothers. She always spoke with pride about
her perfect pink canopy bed, her fun adventures with her sisters, and
wearing Mother and Me dresses with her mom.

Bonnie was an avid baker and gardener. She spent a long career as a baker
in the Super Fresh grocery store of her hometown, Silver Spring, where she
found her local claim to fame by sneaking children extra cookies and other
sweets. She was well known for treating everyone she met like one of her
own, and has countless friends all over the country who still call her
“Mom”. Known affectionately as “Mimi” by her grandchildren, she always went
out of her way to make them feel special, serenading them with their own
songs, entertaining them with embarrassing stories about their parents, and
constantly reminding them that they were her life.

Bonnie was a warm and loving mother and a dedicated wife.

Bonnie dearly loved flamingos and her plants, which she referred to as her
“babies”. Every time she went to the grocery store, she found a new plant
to bring home. She called them “cart jumpers” because they would
practically fly into her grocery cart the moment she saw them. Her love of
her garden was matched by her love of all things flamingo. Her collection
grew and grew as loved ones from near and far sent her flamingos to give
her strength during her battle. She cherished every single one and named
every gift after the loved one who gave it to her as a reminder of the love
she shared with them.

Bonnie spent her final days in comfort and peace with her family. They all
took turns sitting with her, telling her how much they deeply loved her,
sharing silly stories with her, and telling her how happy her loving
parents would be to see her when she entered the gates of Heaven. At 9:45am
on June 23rd, with her beloved daughter Debbie by her side playing her
favorite Buddy Holly songs, Bonnie gently passed into the arms of the Lord.
Her family is at peace knowing that she is resting with Christ and her
parents, whom she missed very much and wished dearly to see again.

Services will be held on July 8th from 2-5pm at Glenview Mansion: 603
Edmonston Dr. Rockville, MD 20852. Bonnie’s family requests that in lieu of
flowers, charitable donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society’s Light the Night Walk team: Bonnie’s Avengers.

https://pages.lightthenight.org/va/hroads19/BonniesAvengers