Location: V-Eichelberger

Born: January 17, 1979 Waco, McLennan County, Texas

Died: March 30, 1999 Smithfield, Johnson County, North Carolina

Daughter of Bobby Gene  and Janice Aileen Holland Mercer

Lance Corporal Sonja Sue Mercer, US Marine Corps,  20, formerly of Waco passed away March 30, 1999, in Smithfield, N.C. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 3, 1999, at First Baptist Church of China Spring with the Rev. Robert Humphries officiating.  Burial will follow with full military honors at China Spring Cemetery.  The family will receive visitors 6-8 p.m. Friday at BrookView Funeral Home.

Sonja Mercer was born Jan. 17, 1979, in Waco.  She graduated from Waco High School in May 1997.  She entered the Marine corps on Nov. 10, 1997, and graduated basic training in February 1998.  Sonja completed Food Service Specialist School and reported to her present command July 6, 1998, where she served with honor and received a letter of appreciation for her superior performance.

She is survived by her father, Bobby Gene Mercer and his wife Pat of Waco, her mother, Janice Mayo of Waco; a sister, Christal Mercer; four brothers, Bobby Gene Mercer, Jr., A. H. Robinson, Tyler Mayo and Jacob Mayo, all of Waco; grandparents, Billy Mercer and his wife Pat of China Spring, and Frank Holland and his wife Mildred of Corsicana; her aunt, Beverly Patterson; uncles, Billy Joe Mercer, Curtis Patterson, Gary Holland, David Holland and Everett Holland; and cousins, Little Curtis Patterson and Patrick Patterson.