Bonnie Lou Woolum

Bonnie Lou Woolum, 75 of Arjay, Kentucky passed away into the loving arms of Jesus on Friday, August 28, 2026 at Hazard ARH. She was born on December 26, 1950 in Yancey, KY. Born to the late, Harl and Ida Mae Patterson Gambrel. She was the last living of the Gambrel siblings; she was a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church, a grocery store owner, called Bonnie‘s place, a Seamstress and caregiver. her proud accomplishments were being a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother. She often called him “Munchkin”

In addition to her parents, she was proceeded in death by her husband, James Woolum of 54 years. Sisters and brothers whom she loved dearly, Allene Taylor, Lucy and Anna Gambrel, Lester and Martha Gambrel, Eugene and Faye Gambrel, Arelee Gambrel, and Earl Gambrel; niece Amy Gambrel, nephews Danny Warren and Ricky Gambrel, great- niece, Autumn Baker and great-nephew Frankie Baker, Jr.

She is survived by her precious daughters who adored her, Donna Woolum and Janice and her husband Paul Caleb Gipson; grandchildren, Donnie and Sarah Foister, Joshua and Madison Gipson and Brooklyn (Dawson and Mollie) Mills; one great grandson, Maverick James Caleb Gipson; sister-in-law, Melva Gambrel, brothers-in-law, Bobby Pile, and Elmer Taylor; special nieces, and nephews that knew her as Aunt B. Special friend, Grace Collett and many more friends too numerous to list.

Funeral services will be 2 PM on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Brooks-Durham Funeral Home, with Rev. James Polly, and Rev. Danny Robbins, music will be provided by Paul Caleb Gipson, Joshua Gipson and Victory Missionary Baptist Church choir; burial will follow in the Greenhills Memorial Garden cemetery in Middlesboro, Kentucky with Paul Caleb Gipson, Joshua Gipson, Donnie Foister, Dawson Mills, Bo Gambrel, Jaxon Baker, Greg Taylor, Peyton Gambrel and Elmer Taylor Jr., serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearer, Maverick Gipson. 

The family will receive friends at 12 noon on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Brooks-Durham Funeral Home until the funeral hour at 2PM. 

The Brooks-Durham Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Woolum family and ask that you keep them in your prayers.