Bonnie "Alma" May Fike

Bonnie Alma May (Whitehead) Fike was born December 5, 1927 in Boma, Tennessee. The daughter of Iona May (Fisher) and John Matthew Whitehead, she grew up in the hills and hollows of this small rural town along with her seven siblings: Ralph and Pierce (Fisher), Maxwell Rhea (Mac), Samuel Mark (Sammy), Mary Fern (Alexander), Etta Dean (O’Conner), and twin brother Johnnie Alva Ray Whitehead. Little Alma loved to dance, particularly to good old Tennessee hillbilly music! She also played the spoons and a mean harmonica! As she grew into adulthood, she collected unique items and crafted leather, baskets, and other “artworks” which she proudly displayed. Alma could, until the very end of her time here, recite every book of the Bible in order! Alma was beautiful inside and out! She loved her family and friends and enjoyed life to its fullest!

Living through the era of the Great Depression, Alma became a very thrifty, determined, and independent woman. She set out on her own at a very young age and successfully and independently managed her affairs throughout her life. She spent time living in Nashville, Indiana and Florida and spent one very cold winter in Maine. She worked at various jobs including a shirt factory, a meat-packing plant, running a dry-cleaning plant, and a small grocery store. After obtaining business training and graduation from Watkins Institute in Nashville, she held various secretarial and management positions at Better Home Products and GENESCO in Nashville. It was here that she began publishing the “3rd Floor News” for the monthly company newsletter. Printing, publishing and various work in the secretarial realm would sustain Alma throughout her life and did indeed provide the means for her to raise a happy, healthy family.

Alma married William Mark Fike on August 28, 1963 in Baxter, TN. In 1965, daughter, Catherine Anne (Nicely) was born in Nashville. The Fike family relocated to a pre-Disney Orlando in 1966 and opened the B & M Print and Letter Shop. Alma, now most often called Bonnie, was President while husband Mark served as Vice-President of the company. Son, Michael Joseph Fike was born in Orlando in 1967 and shortly thereafter, the family moved to Altamonte Springs while maintaining the business in Orlando. Together, Bonnie and Mark successfully ran the printing business until Mark’s death on June 15, 1975. Bonnie continued with B & M Printing until the business was sold in 1977.

In 1976, Bonnie and her two young children moved to Dover, Florida where Bonnie married Norman “Sonnie” Haskew. They were married for 2 ½ years before his passing in August 1981. The family of three then relocated to a town Bonnie had always dreamed of going to as a child, Plant City, FL. It was in Plant City that she began her 27 year career with the Plant City Police Department. There she worked in various positions including records clerk, secretary to the detective division, and administrative assistant. All the while, Bonnie maintained secondary jobs including housekeeping on the weekends at South Florida Baptist Hospital, working on a local cleaning crew cleaning business offices in the evening, and care-giving for three different ladies throughout the years. Her work ethic drove her, but her love and devotion to her children sustained her. Bonnie filled her children’s lives with themed parties, tree forts, clubs, trips to the beach, drive-in movies, and every kind of fun and adventure you could imagine. She provided opportunities for them to play sports, learn musical instruments, march in the band, and to become involved in many other community activities including participation in the church choir and youth organizations. She encouraged her children to sing, dance, and act in community theatre. Bonnie joined her children in many of these activities – playing the organ, working with dance instructors in preparation for yearly recitals (printing of programs, sewing costumes, and organizing cast events), acting (She played a harem girl!), and working behind the scenes on many theatre productions.

Bonnie was raised and baptized in the Boma Church of God, but also attended the Boma Baptist Church from time to time. Along with her then teenage children, she attended Plant City Assembly of God. She later moved her membership and was rebaptized in the Seffner Community Advent Christian Church where her son-in-law was pastor and her daughter’s family attended. Here she sang alto in the choir, served as a deaconess, a steward, and was one of “The Dirty Six” who cleaned the church and fellowship hall. She also published The Pulse Church Newsletter for many, many years. Bonnie suffered a stroke in April 2008, forcing her to end her time with PCPD at the age of 80 years and 4 months. Although not working, she continued to work in her yard, trimming hedges and tending flower beds. Yard work and reading were Bonnie’s personal passions.

Bonnie was predeceased by her parents, her beloved husband Mark, and all of her siblings. She is survived by daughter, Cathy Anne and husband, Johnny (Nicely); son, Michael and his wife, Joann; grandchildren, Brittany Nicole, Christian Keith, William Joseph, Audrey Lynette, and Kimberly Anne; great-grandson, Gideon Joseph; sister-in-law, Elizabeth “Libby” Whitehead; and cherished niece, Iona Bryne. Always a lover of pets, she also leaves her beloved “puppy”, Sweet Pea to continue loving the humans around her.

Bonnie’s children would like all to know how absolutely and completely their mother loved and cared for them. The lessons she taught, the sacrifices she made, the values she lived…..these made us into the thriving and loving adults we are today. Although her earthly body has run and completed the race, her spirit will live on in those she touched. We look forward to our blessed reunion one day in the presence of our Lord and Heavenly Father. We love you, Mom. Sleep well and we will see you on that great and glorious morning!