OBITUARY

Barbara Bonnemer Preston, wife, mother, grandmother and nurse; born March 5, 1949, left this life June 7, 2026. She was the youngest daughter of Lois (Dannie) Williams Bonnemer and Sidney L. Bonnemer. She was predeceased by her parents and older brother, Jim Bonnemer. Barb was an “Air Force brat” and was born in Athens, Georgia. She lived in Pooler, Georgia; England; Great Falls, Montana; Goose Bay, Labrador and Orlando, Florida before her parents settled in Winder, Georgia after her father’s retirement from the United States Air Force.

Barb is survived by her brother, Sidney Bonnemer (Charlotte) and best sister, Jackie Hall (Bill). She attended Winder Barrow High School before earning a GED and graduating from the first Licensed Practical Nurse class at Athens Tech’s branch at Walton County Hospital. Barb worked as a nurse at Walton County Hospital for CC Moreland, MD, and later for Sara McBee, MD, in their office practices. Barb loved her patients and was loved by them. Many of them said that she gave the best, most pain free shots ever! Barb was a voracious reader and loved the beach (oceanfront only please), camping and travel with her husband, Joe, along with Jackie and Bill Hall. Their travels took them hiking out West and in Washington state, to the rainforest and beaches of Belize, as well as cruises ranging from the beautiful Caribbean Islands and the Mediterranean to Alaska.

She married her high school sweetheart, Joe Preston, in 1966. Barb chose Joe the first time they met at a teen dance at the Winder Women’s Club. Barb and Joe have three sons; Joseph N. “Trey” Preston III, Frank W. Preston and Benjamin T. Preston (Tara). She had six grandchildren and five great grandchildren who called her Bebe. Joe’s parents, Emily and Hoppy, embraced Barbara from the start and considered her their daughter. Barb was a member of the St Albans Episcopal Church in Monroe, Georgia.

The family will receive visitors at Meadows Funeral Home on Friday, June 12, 2026 from 6-8pm. Services will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026 beginning at 2pm at St Albans Episcopal Church with Father Rich Bardush officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Barb’s favorite charity, The Wounded Warrior Project.