Author: Megan Niese

O’Bannon’s gift to honor James’ love of Bloomington and its Black community

James Edward O’Bannon—known to many as “Bert,” and to his family as “Cousin James”—lived a life defined not by recognition, but by quiet constancy. Yet it was his quiet generosity and his love for his community that would shape Bloomington’s future in profound ways.

Born on January 1, 1934, in the home his father built on Bloomington’s near west side, James spent nearly all of his 91 years rooted in the same neighborhood, watching the community around him grow and change.

That steady presence shaped how he moved through the world. He was a familiar face—someone who waved from the porch, stopped to chat, or shared what he had with others. In his younger years, it was vegetables from his backyard garden, generously passed along to neighbors. Later, it was time spent connecting with friends over meals or conversations across town. He loved Indiana University football and basketball. A longtime IU football season-ticket holder, James was thrilled to see the team have such a historic season in his final year of life.

James’ life was also marked by service. After his time at Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College and then in the U.S. Army, he returned home and built a long career with the United States Postal Service. As only the second African American hired at the Bloomington post office, he helped open doors for others while dedicating more than 35 years to his work.

Those who knew James best remember something beyond his accomplishments. Christina Williams, his second cousin, recalls a man with a warm sense of humor who liked to joke and didn’t take himself too seriously. He believed deeply in being engaged with your community in whatever way you could—whether that meant offering encouragement, stopping in to say hello, or simply paying attention to the world around you. “He loved to sit on his porch and talk to the neighbors walking by. He knew everyone,” said Christina.

James also found joy in the everyday rhythms of Bloomington. Tina Kyles, who was like a daughter to James, said, “He had a great memory for all the things in the community. Being a postman, he knew Bloomington inside and out.” Tina recalls his endearing habit of doing what the family called a “ride by.” “He would go by our houses during his evening drive around town and honk his horn a couple of times to let us know he was doing alright,” she recalled. His sense of humor always came through, even in the ride by. If a family member wasn’t at home, he would leave a porch chair upside down as a sign that he had checked in and to gently tease them.

Even in his later years, one of his favorite pastimes was driving through the city, noting what buildings were coming down and what was new. He appreciated the way a community evolves—and the role each person can play in shaping it.

Quiet generosity impacting countless lives

He believed in giving back, too—though quietly and without recognition. James provided scholarships to graduates of Bloomington High School North, and made contributions to 529 education accounts, never seeking acknowledgment. It was simply something he felt called to do. He carried that same humility into his life: careful with his resources, yet always intentional about how those resources could help others.

That intentionality culminated in a remarkable act of generosity. Through his estate, James made the largest legacy gift the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County has received to date, a contribution that stands to benefit countless individuals and families in Bloomington for generations to come. This $2 million gift not only reflects a lifetime of careful stewardship but also demonstrates his deep belief in supporting his community in lasting ways.

“James O’Bannon’s extraordinary estate gift is a powerful reflection of a life rooted in generosity, humility, and deep love for Bloomington,” said Tina Peterson, President and CEO of the Community Foundation. “Through this gift, James is investing in the people, places, and institutions that shaped his life, and his legacy will continue strengthening Bloomington in enduring ways.”

James’ estate gift strengthens organizations and causes that reflect his values. It will help grow the Boys & Girls Club Endowment and the Community Foundation’s Housing Security Endowment, expanding access to opportunity and stability for generations to come. It also established two new funds that will carry his name and spirit forward: the James O’Bannon Fund for Second Baptist Church and the James O’Bannon Fund for the Salvation Army of Bloomington.

While James was not particularly religious, he trusted Reverend Bruce Rose at Second Baptist Church and recognized its role as a vital hub of Bloomington’s Black community. Creating a lasting source of support for the church reflects both his respect for that institution and his understanding of how community is built—through connection, trust, and shared spaces. Christina said, “In our culture, whether you attend church or not, the black church is incredibly important in the community. James knew that and supported it as a consistent contributor.”

In the same way, his support of the Salvation Army reflects his quiet commitment to meeting everyday needs—ensuring that individuals and families have access to the resources they need to get through difficult moments. While he had not personally attended the Boys and Girls Club, it was part of his extended family’s experience in Bloomington and one he valued.

Lasting impact from a humble heart

Through the Community Foundation, James’ gift will be stewarded with the same care he practiced throughout his life—growing over time, adapting to changing needs, and continuing to support the community he loved. James O’Bannon passed away on November 26, 2025. He leaves behind a legacy that mirrors the life he lived: thoughtful, steady, and deeply rooted in place.

Christina hopes his legacy will inspire others. “I want others to see how they can help the community. Everybody can do something to make things better.”

James O’Bannon may never have sought the spotlight, but his impact is extraordinary. In the neighbors he supported, the barriers he helped break down, and now in the enduring funds that bear his name, his quiet generosity will continue to shape Monroe County for years to come. “We often see philanthropy from the majority culture, but not as often at this level from the minority culture,” said Christina. “We want the community to hear his story and say, ‘Here’s one of us. If he was able to do this, you could do it.’”

Tina agrees, “I want others to appreciate the gift and also understand the person who made it possible and the way he lived his life.”

His life is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always come from grand gestures. Sometimes, it is built patiently—over decades—through small acts of care, a deep love for community, and a belief that everyone has a role to play.

If you feel inspired by James O’Bannon’s legacy, you can make a gift to one of the four funds that inspired James on the Community Foundation website (the James O’Bannon Fund for Second Baptist Church, the James O’Bannon Fund for the Salvation Army of Bloomington, the Boys & Girls Club Endowment, or the Housing Security Endowment).

To learn more about how you can leave your own legacy gift, visit the Community Foundation’s gift planning website or reach out to Development Director Meagan Niese at meaganniese@cfbmc.org for more information.

About the Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County

The Community Foundation connects donors and resources to catalyze solutions that strengthen Monroe County through grantmaking, leadership, and strategic partnerships to drive both immediate and long-term impact. Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation has granted $52 million to more than 600 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $59 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources to address our community’s most pressing challenges and seize its most compelling opportunities.

For couples like Kevin and Beth Theile and Amanda and John Burnham, family philanthropy didn’t begin with a financial milestone—it began with simply showing up for their children, their friends, their neighbors, and the community that has shaped their families across generations.

What started as volunteering and friendship eventually grew into something deeper: a shared commitment to giving locally and intentionally.

Though the two couples arrived in Bloomington by different paths, each found meaningful reasons to stay. John and Beth were born and raised in Bloomington, each of their families having long-standing local businesses, and their fathers were friends. Amanda grew up in Whiting, Indiana, and her path led her to attend Indiana University, where she met John. Bloomington became her home after she and John married. Kevin, a Cincinnati native, met Beth at Butler University in Indianapolis. Graduating a year before Beth, he began work at T.I.S., Inc., with Beth’s father, Ray Tichenor. The two married two years later in 1992, as did John and Amanda later that same year. Beyond the Burnham and Tichenor families’ deep ties to Monroe County, they also had deep commitments to helping others in need. 

The Tichenor family founded T.I.S. Inc., a Midwestern educational conglomerate company that operated for over five decades as one of IU’s main campus bookstores. “My parents always gave back to the community and instilled that in us,” Beth shared. “The community supported our family, our children, and our business for many years, so it was a given that you should do all you can to give back.”

John recalls similar lessons passed down through generations of his family’s local business history. “My grandparents owned a grocery store in Harrodsburg during the Depression,” he said. “Many people couldn’t afford to buy food. My grandparents often offered credit to their customers so their families wouldn’t starve and told them to pay it back when they could. Every family that took that offer eventually settled their debt with my grandparents. Years later, people would come up to us and tell us that because of my grandparents’ generosity, they didn’t go hungry.”

Today, both families continue generational businesses – now focused on real estate – and build upon their parents’ and grandparents’ examples. Those examples shaped how the Theiles and the Burnhams approached their commitment to giving back.

Friendship Through Service

Beth and Amanda’s friendship began while volunteering with Tri Kappa – Bloomington Alpha Chapter, a women’s philanthropic organization that provides scholarships to local students and grants for local nonprofits.

Amanda was helping coordinate a collection of donated baked goods for the Tri Kappa Craft Show when she came across a special coffee cake. “It was beautiful and delicious. The presentation and the detail caught my attention,” Amanda recalled. “I asked who donated it, and someone told me it was Beth Theile, a new member. I made it my mission to not only get the recipe, but to also get to know her!”

Soon, the two women were partnering on a variety of volunteer projects with Tri Kappa and through the Sounds of South choir at Bloomington High School South, where both had children actively involved.

“When Amanda takes something on, she’s going with it, and she’ll be amazing at it,” said Beth. “We really work well together,” and Amanda is quick to add that “the feeling is mutual!”

In addition to the joy of volunteering, Beth and Amanda formed strong friendships with others and eventually introduced their husbands to their growing friend group. “A lot of our core friends had kids who went through the Sounds of South program together,” Beth said. “It brought together parents who were willing to show up.”

Amanda agreed. “One of the things that was so important to all of us was that we wanted everyone’s kid to have the best experience they could. Whatever was needed—we were there.”

The two couples’ teamwork extended beyond formal volunteering, from organizing meal trains for families in crisis to cooking for friends and supporting one another through life’s milestones. As Amanda put it, “Service is not always through an organization. It’s nurturing people where they need it.”

That volunteer connection would become foundational—not only to their friendship, but to how philanthropy became woven into their family lives.

Choosing the Community Foundation

As their capacity to give back grew, both families began looking for thoughtful, sustainable ways to support the community.

For Kevin and Beth, philanthropy at the Community Foundation began with legacy. Beth’s parents established three funds during their lifetime that continue today: the Ray and Marcie Tichenor Fund for Education and Health, the Tichenor Endowment for Stone Belt, and the Tichenor and Theile Family Fund, a donor advised fund that Kevin and Beth, alongside her siblings, Tim, Terri, Jon, and Marta, use to create impact through annual grant recommendations. Later, Kevin and Beth created another donor advised fund for their own family. These endowments will all continue in perpetuity to support the quality of life in Monroe County.

“The power of endowment means these funds and the good they can do keep on growing,” said Kevin. “The Community Foundation is a proven conduit for channeling our support to just about anything, whether it’s a direct support for a nonprofit or benefiting a charitable field of interest.”

For Amanda and John, learning about the Community Foundation started with a conversation with their friends, the Theiles. Those conversations became especially intriguing when a Lilly Endowment matching opportunity came along to establish an unrestricted endowment.

“Kevin had served on the board at the Community Foundation and explained how unrestricted funds are used,” Amanda shared.

Unrestricted funds allow the Community Foundation to respond to Monroe County’s evolving needs through strategic grantmaking. By leaving spending decisions undesignated, donors trust the Foundation and its Board of Directors to determine the most effective ways to seize our community’s most compelling opportunities or respond to the most pressing needs.

“There’s a thoughtful process. Local people are making grant decisions. That gave us a lot of confidence,” added Amanda.

The Burnhams chose to establish an unrestricted endowment, trusting the Community Foundation to steward the funds wisely and direct resources where they’re most needed, both now and in the future.

“It was a no-brainer,” John shared. “We were in a position to give, we like giving, and in this case, with a match, everyone benefits even more.”

Giving Locally, Thinking Long-Term

Both families emphasized that local giving through the Community Foundation allows them to balance control, impact, and trust.

“With a donor advised fund, we get to decide with our family how to support what we care about,” said Beth. I love that we can change our focus year to year while still knowing the fund is endowed and growing.”

Amanda echoed that sentiment. “There are so many places you can give, but this is an easy one because I have confidence the Community Foundation will be here forever, long after we are gone.”

Seeing their fund names alongside others—past and present—also carries meaning.

“If you look at that list of funds, it’s astonishing,” Kevin said. “So many of the individuals and families who helped make this community what it is today are listed there. It’s remarkable to be part of that combined philanthropic effort.”

For the Theiles and the Burnhams, philanthropy isn’t about dollar amounts—it’s about starting somewhere. Their advice is simple: get involved, give your time, and let generosity grow from there.

“It starts with a conversation,” Kevin said. “Every one of our funds started with a conversation over the last 35 years. Giving your time may come first, and the financial giving may come later.”

And together, the Burnhams and the Theiles hope others will see what’s possible—when friendship, giving, and community all come together.