Dr. William Sadler Bonds

Dr. William Sadler Bonds, age 54, died Thursday, March 13, 2003 at Emerald-Hodgson Hospital in Sewanee, Tenn. He was born on May 6, 1948 in Richmond, Va., the son of Josephine Clemm Stokes and Maurice Bonds. Dr. Bonds attended Henrico County schools, graduating from Hermitage High School in 1965. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Classics in 1969 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md. For the next three years he taught Latin and English at Midlothian High School in Chesterfield County, Va. He earned Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Classical Studies from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974 and 1978. In that year he joined the faculty of the University of the South in the Department of Classical Languages. He served for many years as chair of the department and became a full professor in 1993, teaching Latin and Greek, summer and winter. As a classical scholar, Professor Bonds focused on Roman epic poetry and was deeply involved in the Tennessee Classical Association, editing its newsletter for many years. He taught a full range of classical languages and literature and developed a computer-based tool for teaching classical languages. He is especially remembered for his lively and witty teaching style. Dr. Bonds was preceded in death by his father, Maurice Bonds, in 1995; his grandparents, Irene Daugherty Stokes and Ralph Morton Stokes Sr. of Portsmouth, Va.; and his adoptive grandparents, Josephine Sadler White and J. Sledd White of Mathews, Va. He is survived by two daughters, Carol Emilie Bonds of Washington, D.C. and Rachel Irene Bonds of Providence, R.I. and Sewanee; one stepdaughter, Veronica Hart; his mother, Josephine Stokes Bonds of Richmond, Va.; three sisters, Rebecca B. Oxenreider and husband, Bill of Manakin-Sabot, Josephine B. Nicholls and husband, Tom of Glen Allen, and Irene B. Slatner and husband, John of Sims, N.C. He is survived by four nieces, Meredith Walls and husband, Peter, Emily K. Eaton, Bonnie L. Nicholls and Sarah D. Nicholls; two great-nephews, Benjamin Maurice and Matthew Riordan Walls; an aunt and uncle, Dr. and Mrs. Ralph M. Stokes Jr. of Portsmouth, Va. Dr. Bonds is also survived by many colleagues and devoted friends, especially in Sewanee. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 17, 2003 at All Saints Chapel on the university campus with the Rev. Tom Ward officiating. Interment took place at the university cemetery immediately following the service. Dr. Bonds will be sorely missed by his family, his friends and his students at the university.