Sonya Marie Bardwell

Sonya Bardwell, age 52, gained her eternal peace on Tuesday, February 21, 2023.  She was surrounded by many cherished loved ones as she passed away.  Her visitation will be held 11am Saturday, February 25, 2023 at First United Methodist Church Richland, 250 Richland Circle, Richland, MS 39218.  Memorial service will be held at 12pm on Saturday at the church.  Pastor Barbara Taylor will officiate the service.  Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Morton.

Sonya was born on November 11, 1970 in Okinawa, Japan to Jerry Torrence and Brenda Graham.  She spent the majority of her life living between Leake County, Mississippi and Jackson County on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Sonya was a social butterfly who always enjoyed spending time with close friends; especially at the deer camp.  She was very artistically creative and a fantastic cook.  She was also passionate about her four children.  Some of her best memories were coaching some of her kid’s sports teams and camping on the Mississippi Barrier Islands with them.

She is preceded in death by grandparents, J W Torrence and Mary Sue Coward Torrence; grandparents, Helen Sanford Graham and Cecil Howard Graham; Children’s father, Van “Buba” Bardwell, Jr. and longtime partner, Hal Richmond.

She is survived by her parents, Jerry Torrence (Hollie) of Florence and Brenda Garrett (Marcus) of Gautier; 4 children, Vance Bardwell (Hope) of Ocean Springs, Courtney Bardwell of Denver, Kelsey Taylor (Joshua) of Ocean Springs and Jarret Bardwell of Ocean Springs; 3 siblings, Jeremy Torrence of TX, Crisler Torrence (Joy) of TN and Nicols Torrence (Franziska) of Austria; 2 grandchildren, Nolan Bardwell and Beau Taylor; many other family members and a host of friends.