Bonnie Loraine Craighead Tarpley

04/10/1960 - 01/14/2022

Obituary For Bonnie Loraine Craighead Tarpley

The road was getting too hard, so God called Bonnie Loraine Craighead Tarpley home on Friday, January 14, 2022, at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She was 61 years of age. Born on April 10, 1960, in Martinsville, VA, Bonnie was the daughter of Sarah Hairston Craighead and the late Marvin Clay Craighead, Sr. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, David Roy Craighead and Marvin Clay Craighead, Jr.

Bonnie attended Henry County Public Schools and graduated from Laurel Park High School in 1978. She had already begun working at Carter Bank and Trust and remained there for several years. During this time, Bonnie became a member of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Sam W. Adams.

Later, she moved her family to Reidsville, North Carolina and worked at American Tobacco until the plant closed. Bonnie's next position was at Rockingham County EMS, until her health declined.

As for her interests, Bonnie took great pleasure in writing poetry and had one of her works published. She also became the family historian, and this was truly her passion. Countless hours were spent on family tree research which included reading birth and death records, obituaries, and U.S. Census Forms. When called, Bonnie was always eager to share her findings and explain how people are related.

Those left to cherish her memory include: her mother, Sarah Hairston Craighead of Martinsville, VA; two sons, Marcus Tarpley of Martinsville, VA and Reginald Hammock of Durham, NC; three sisters, Debbie (Vernon) Williams of Greensboro, NC, Maranda (Waylon) Rooks and Marvette (Jack) Tate both of Richmond, VA; one granddaughter, Ava Hammock of Reidsville, NC; one aunt, Aurelia Grant of Redondo Beach, CA and a host of cousins and great friends.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2022, at 12 noon at the C.R.V. Memorial Chapel at Hairston Funeral Home, with Reverend John Adams, Eulogist. Burial will follow at Carver Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Hairston Funeral Home on Sunday, January 23, 2022, between the hours of 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. On Monday, January 24, 2022, viewing will be from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m.

To view live streaming of the funeral service, go to Hairston Funeral Home's Facebook page, then click on the service.

Hairston Funeral Home is serving the Craighead/Tarpley family.