蜜豆直播

She鈥檚 barely 5-feet tall, but one should not be fooled by her stature. Although she is as down-to-earth as they come, Florence 鈥淔lossie鈥� Bonner, wife of 蜜豆直播 University鈥檚 12th president, Dr. Frank Bonner, is leaving her successor with some pretty big shoes to fill.

She was a force in the classroom, having taught complicated algebraic equations to Shelby (N.C.) High School students for nearly 20 years. Today, more than a decade after she retired from teaching, former students still call her 鈥淢rs. Bonner.鈥� Even though she repeatedly encouraged one young man, 鈥淐all me 鈥楩lossie,鈥欌�� he just couldn鈥檛 bring himself to do so.

When Dr. Bonner became GWU president in 2005, his new role put her more in the spotlight at campus events, but she focused her energies on being his confidant and encourager.

鈥淢y role is to support Frank and be an ambassador in the community,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚鈥檝e enjoyed every minute of that.鈥�

She has served on the GWU campus wherever needed, offering a smile and handshake to visitors and praising the exceptional work of students. Through the years, she鈥檚 made time for other important endeavors in Cleveland County, N.C. She has served as president of the Junior Charity League and on the boards of the YMCA and Eat Smart, Move More. She and Frank are members of First Baptist Church in Shelby, and she shares her talents on committees there as well.

鈥淚鈥檝e had a really good life,鈥� she declared. 鈥淭he people of 蜜豆直播 and the greater Shelby area have been so good to us.鈥�

In 2019, after more than three decades of work at 蜜豆直播 and 13 years as president, Dr. Frank Bonner will retire. Next August, he and Flossie will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Reflecting on their lives together鈥攖he first time they met, their dating years, family vacations, camping and other adventures鈥擣lossie smiled and stated, 鈥淲e鈥檝e had fun.鈥�

Flossie is approachable and friendly. Her contagious energy and kindness are among her most endearing qualities. In fact, she became so popular among students that one Student Government Association (SGA) presidential candidate utilized her name in his campaign speech. After naming several of the reasons he felt students should vote for him, he spontaneously added, 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 endorsed by Flossie Bonner!鈥� He won the election. 鈥淔rank and I thought that was so funny,鈥� she related. 鈥淲e will never forget him.鈥�

In retirement, the Bonners are looking forward to traveling more, and visiting their grandchildren. She would like to visit Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Alaska and
some other locations, but the Bonner鈥檚 home base will be Shelby. 鈥淎fter 32 years here, this is our home,鈥� Flossie asserted.

They also plan to continue the healthy habits started years ago: eating nutritious foods and exercising six days a week. She runs 1.5 miles in the morning before meeting a group of friends to walk another 5 miles. She also lifts weights, works out on the elliptical machine, and plays pickle ball. She and Frank often spend Sunday afternoons on the golf course. Her guilty pleasure is to skip a workout and indulge in a gooey dessert. 鈥淭hat rarely happens,鈥� she acknowledged. 鈥淏ut if I had a chance to eat my mom鈥檚 homemade cobbler, that would definitely be hard to say no to.鈥�