Zelma Yvonne Steele - Obituary

elma Yvonne Steele affectionately known as Bon was born Friday December 18, 1942, in Morven, North Carolina the twelfth of thirteen children to the late Siffus Steele and Mary (Jacie) Liles-Steele. The siblings preceding Bon in death were Lewis, Haywood, Bernelle, Herman, Grace, Theodore, Julia, Doris, James, Peggy, and Anne. After 81 years Bon peacefully departed this life to join her parents, siblings, other relatives, and friends on Saturday February 3, 2024. Bon began her education in the Anson County School System in Morven, North Carolina graduating from McRae High School. After high school Bon left the comfort and safety of her parents for the big city of Charlotte, NC attending Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) following the footsteps of several of her siblings. Due to hardships, Bon was unable to complete her degree but the lessons she received at JCSU were immeasurable, impactful, and life altering serving her well into her personal, professional, and social life. Bon’s Christian education began at Harris Chapel AME Zion Church in Morven, NC where her grandparents were founding members. In the early 80’s Bon joined Allen Chapel AME Church in Southeast Washington, DC, which became the home church for her, Edith (Rick), Hank, Marc, and Sauda. At Allen Chapel, Bon served as an usher for 30 plus years and served on several auxiliary ministry groups such as children’s Sunday school, Women of Allen, hospitality, beautification, sick and shut in, and she sang (allegedly) in the senior choir. After JCSU Bon headed to Washington, DC joining her brothers Theodore and James and her sisters Anne and Peggy establishing roots in the area until her passing of 60 years later. Bon loved everything about DC, the sporting teams, atmosphere, local entertainment, and cuisine. The thing Bon loved the most about DC was spending time with her sisters Anne, Peggy, and baby sister Edith (her heartbeat). The sisters created a birthday club, which started with just the sisters going to dinner on one another’s birthday and morphed into monthly dinners and outings (shows, movies, etc.) with other friends and family attending over the years. Upon putting down roots in DC, Bon started and ended her career with the District of Columbia Department of Recreation. Bon truly enjoyed her 39-year career, colleagues, children, and the heights the job took her. One of Bon’s favorite workplaces was Roper Junior High School in Deanwood, Northeast DC. She did some of her best work at Roper touching the lives of countless children throughout the neighborhood entering the ‘rec’ center after school. Over the years Bon led the cheerleaders to championships, created bowling teams, took kids skiing, and introduced the ‘rec’ kids to the cotillion ball. Additionally, Bon was part of the Mayor Marion S. Barry’s leadership team responsible for bringing the Budweiser’s Superfest at RFK Stadium and the Riverfest at the Wharf in Southwest. She is survived by her sister Edith (Frederick-Deceased) Bolling, nephew/son Dr. Jerry A. Bolling (Chandra) and their children Marc A., Kyle V., and Troy M. and Marc Bolling nephew/son and his daughter Sauda Z. Bolling. Additionally, she leaves a sister-in-law Evelent (James) Steele and two brothers-in-law Leo (Doris) Johnson and Thomas (Grace) Johnson and a host of cousins, nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces, and great-grand nephews and nieces, too many to name individually. There is no universe big enough, wide enough, or expansive enough to cover her life and no one or nothing could possibly fill the void of her passing. But loving her as much as we did, we know it is best she goes onto this new journey until the day we join her in her heavenly home. The Family of Zelma Yvonne Steele