Code,991031
Subject,Renee Howard Bonner
Date,8/6/14
Interviewer,Wilette Crawford
Abstract,Renee Howard Bonner describes growing up at Union Grove and the aspects of the church that have changed and the aspects that have stayed the same. 
Tags,
Special Notes,Two interviews combined during minute 40:00.
Minutes: ,47 minutes
0,Born 10/23/1951 in Cleveland Hospital. Parents lived on W 25th when she was born. 
1,Father is from Mississippi and mother is from Alabama. Moved from the Westside to the eastside when she was 2 years old. 
2,"Westside was not very diverse, mother was the other female African American in the school (West Hay). Moved to 93rd and Hough. "
3,Discusses the various schools she attended in the area. 
4,Went to college at Ohio University for business for one year. Then went to dental assisting school. Union Grove was all she knew. 
5,Mother and aunt were present at the beginning of Union Grove. 
6,"Mother and Rev. Rogers were in the choir together when she was pregnant, and brags she knew Rev. Rogers before she was born. There were a lot of activities offered within the church. "
7,"Mother brought Bonner and her sister on her own, because her dad had to play baseball on Sundays. Family atmosphere, everything was centered around the church. "
8,Church was a part of Bonner growing up. Was on the Junior Usher Board and Junior Choir.
9,Had a church basketball team and was on the cheerleading squad for a short time. Team played other churches. 
10,Also had a drill team. 
11,"Usher Board first greets you when you come to the church. Representative of other members, showed them to a seat. Mother was on the Nurse's Guild. "
12,"Nurses had a uniform of white dresses, hats, shoes, stockings, and navy blue cape with red insides. "
13,Church hosted a lot of dinners. 
14,Discusses the experience of going to church at Union Grove on a Sunday morning. 
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16,Choir used to march into church on Sunday morning. 
17,"Rev. Harrison Banks, Rev. Brown, and Rev. Rogers were all excellent speakers. "
18,Rev. Rogers was a very giving person. Told all the children of the church to call him daddy. Love to hear about Job in a sermon. 
19,Feels she and Job have kinship. 
20,Describes her favorite song from Union Grove. 
21,Enjoys listening to people sing and praise. 
22,Pastor's Anniversary and Birthday were always a big event in the church. 
23,"Church used to plan trips to other churches, Detriot, and Niagara Falls."
24,Aunt would make fried chicken and cake to eat on the bus. Martin Luther King came to the church. 
25,"Rev. Rogers put together a place mat with a picture of Martin Luther King visiting. Bonner wasn't involved in Civil Rights, beyond watching events on television. "
26,Father struggled with deciding to participate in the Movement because he was in the army. 
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29,Union Grove has a lot of organizations that help meets the spiritual needs of its members. Bonner is on the Missionary Society. 
30,This is the 4th or 5th year for the garden at the church. 
31,Describes what is growing in the garden outside of Union Grove. Grown to give away to members of the church and the community. 
32,Rev. Rogers was always working at the church. 
33,"Also, always had something good to say to make you feel good. "
34,Would tell Rev. Rogers that they are trying to do everything he taught them to do. 
35,"Rev. Rogers's son, Rev. Kenneth Rogers is the pastor at Union Grove now. "
36,He works hard and wants the church to be the best that it can be. Felt it was a natural change. Pastor Kenny is more progressive that his father. 
37,Difficult with old school members. 
38,Will support the new changes Rev. Kenny brings. 
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40,"Would describe Union Grove as a loving, caring, Christian community. "
41,"Union Grove is a stylish church, remembers the hats women wore on Sundays. "
42,People dressed up for church because they didn't dress up during the week. 
43,There used to be church fashion shows. They would make clothes and have church members model them. 
44,"Was taught how to be a lady- taught how to walk, how to sit, and how to behave like a young lady. "
45,"Dinners taught her how to properly set a table, and how to cook. Small kitchen downstairs, would be 5 or 6 women with Rev. Rogers cooking. "
46,Almost like going to charm school as well as going to church. 
47,Union Grove had excellent role models in the church. End. 
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