Honoring the “Queen of Cobb County”: Deane Bonner Turns 90

Cobb County came together Wednesday evening to celebrate the remarkable 90th birthday of Deane Bonner, known by many as a civil rights pioneer, warrior, model, mother, wife, great-grandmother—affectionately known as the Queen of Cobb County. Friends, family, and community and elected leaders gathered at the Strand Theatre to honor a life defined by advocacy, courage, and transformative leadership.

A special program highlighted “90 legendary years of Deane Bonner,” featuring speeches from local leaders, musical performances, and a joyous sing-along of “Happy Birthday,” capped with cake in the Strand’s lobby. Earlier, guests congratulated Bonner on the Strand’s rooftop terrace, praising her decades of work advancing equality and opportunity.

Bonner served as president of the Cobb NAACP from 1997 to 2017, championing voter rights, educational access, African-American representation in leadership, and community celebrations including Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. Her tireless advocacy earned her numerous accolades, including the Marietta Daily Journal’s Citizen of the Year Award. Among the attendees to the celebration were former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes and wife Marie, Powder Springs Mayor Al Thurman, Cobb Sheriff Craig Owens, Cobb District Attorney Sonya Allen, Austell Councilwoman Valerie Anderson, Marietta Councilmen Andre Sims and Joseph Goldstein, Gold Medal Olympian Mel Pender and wife Debi Pender, and Spotlight South Cobb News Publisher Shelia Edwards, among others.  

Cobb County Sheriff Craig Owens saluted Bonner and said, “We are here today because of her. She has set the pathway for success for us. For many African Americans who came through the early ’80s, it’s because of Mrs. Bonner’s hard work that we are where we are today.”

Bonner was saluted by Owens and others for her lifetime of service and praised for her leadership, wisdom, and courage that have inspired generations of civic leaders, public servants, and citizens.

Former Gov. Roy Barnes reflected on Bonner’s historic impact, noting that she helped transform Cobb County into a community that “stands as a hallmark of diversity and change.”

During the program, Bonner humbly addressed the crowd, fighting back tears: “I am rarely without words. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, y’all have made this such a wonderful night… To make a difference in Cobb County, you had to be in the room. Working in Cobb County had never been just Deane Bonner alone. There have been so many people that have helped us change Cobb County.”

The evening was more than a birthday celebration—it was a testament to a lifetime of dedication to justice, equality, and community. SPOTLIGHT South Cobb News salutes Deane Bonner, a trailblazer whose influence will be felt for generations to come.