Dates
Carol Ann (Halliday) Bonds, 77, affectionately known as "Bebs" or “CAB” to family and friends, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and leadership in pursuit of excellence in education and selfless service to her family and the communities she profoundly impacted.
Carol Ann was born on September 28, 1947, in Jackson, Mississippi, to William Barham (W.B.) Halliday and Katherine Louella (Walker) Halliday, and was the oldest of three siblings. She graduated from Murrah High School in 1965, where she was an active member of the Murrah Misses Drill Team and the Murrah Singers. Though she joked that the drill team was the closest she ever came to being in athletics, her musical talent manifested beautifully in vocal, piano, and violin performances.
Her journey led her to Houston Baptist College (now Houston Christian University), where fate intervened on move-in day as she met her future husband, Charles (Charlie) G Bonds, who offered to help carry her things. They were married on October 12, 1968, in Jackson. At HBC, Carol Ann excelled academically and socially, participating in the College Singers and being chosen as a class favorite for three years. Her accolades included being named Homecoming Princess, Miss HBC, and receiving the President’s Award. She graduated in just three years with degrees in English and Education, setting the stage for a remarkable career.
Carol Ann began teaching first graders in Aldine and Cy-Fair ISDs before her growing family followed her parents’ relocation to rural Central Texas near Holland in 1980. Her passion for educating young people took her to Holland ISD in 1981, where she served as a third-grade teacher, writing instructor, and later as the elementary school principal in 1989. Her knack for helping students improve their writing proficiency culminated in her authorship of Show Me the Way, a book designed to be paired with workshops she provided teachers in school districts across Texas. Her innovative approaches were featured in the Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Journal.
Continuing her academic journey, Carol Ann earned a Master of Education degree from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1988 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Education Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. Her research won Dissertation of the Year from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Carol Ann’s contributions to education were impactful. She was named Principal of the Year in 1995 by the Texas Elementary Principals Association and became the Superintendent of Rogers ISD that year. A visionary leader, she spearheaded grant writing initiatives, securing millions in funding for integrating educational technology, rural health care access, and collaborative student engagement projects with community members, educators, and students across the nation as part of her Kids as Agents of Change program. She helped establish the first school-based health center of its kind in Texas and was recognized nationally for her efforts, receiving the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leader Award. Her work was featured in Hope Magazine and Reader’s Digest, highlighting her as one of the nation’s five Health Heroes in 2001. She was a finalist for Texas Superintendent of the Year in 2001.
In 2003, Carol Ann took on the role of Superintendent at Livingston ISD, navigating the district through numerous successes and challenges. In 2007, she transitioned to lead San Angelo ISD, where she formed strong partnerships with Goodfellow Air Force Base, spearheaded facility infrastructure improvement plans, and positioned the district as a leader in academic accountability in West Texas. Her contributions earned her the Region 15 Superintendent of the Year Award in 2010 and the San Angelo Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2015 as she neared retirement from public education.
Carol Ann’s leadership extended to state and national levels, serving on the UIL Legislative Council and being appointed by Governor Abbott to the Texas Military Preparedness Commission in 2016 and 2020. She served on the US Air Force’s Air Education and Training Corps Commander’s Civic Group and the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program. Her commitment to supporting military communities and awarding grants to defense-related projects was a testament to her passion for service.
Carol Ann had a sharp wit and loved good-natured humor and banter. She believed in making people feel heard, important, and valued. She demanded high standards while also fostering a positive and enthusiastic climate. She was masterful at leveraging the power of encouragement and could deliver constructive advice with grace and care. She could challenge the brightest minds while ensuring that struggling individuals felt capable of succeeding. Her generosity was boundless, and she lived a life of significance to purposes greater than herself. This was evidenced by taking groups to enjoy our national parks, sending cards filled with leadership lessons, rolling napkins and knitting sweater caps for patrons of Neighbors Café, a local soup kitchen, to preparing snack packages for incoming trainees at Goodfellow Air Force Base, and hosting international trainees in her home.
The Apostle Paul described the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Carol Ann reflected Christ’s light through her radiant persona, bearing a complete and consistent bounty of these fruits for everyone she generously welcomed into her space.
Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Charlie; daughter Paula Richardson and her husband Brian, son Craig Bonds and wife Monica; four granddaughters Megan DiCenzo, Allison DiCenzo, Carly Bonds, and Macy Bonds; brother Warren Halliday and sister-in-law Karey; sister Mary Klentzman and brother-in-law Rick; brother- and sister-in-law Aubrey and Jan Knox; numerous nephews and nieces and their families; multitudes of friends and colleagues; and the thousands of students, educators, and military service members whose lives she touched.
Celebrations of Carol Ann’s life will be held during a visitation on Friday, March 28th from 5 – 7pm at Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo, funeral service at First Baptist Church San Angelo on Saturday, March 29th at 11am, followed by a brief graveside service on Sunday, March 30th at 2pm at Val Verde Baptist Church Cemetery in Holland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church San Angelo in support of the Neighbor’s Café, or a charity of your choice, in honor of her lifelong commitment to education and community service.
Family and friends may share condolences and sign the online register book at www.harper-funeralhome.com.