Ed Bonner was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi on May 21, 1961 to John and Helen Bonner. Ed was the second of four children and the eldest son. In 1964, the Bonners moved to Oxford where John had found a position as a carpenter with the University of Mississippi Physical Plant.

Ed was a quiet but friendly child. He attended Oxford High School where he was an average student and a member of the football team. After graduation, Ed got a job working construction for The Mitchell Company. He soon found he, like his father, had a flair for carpentry and focused his efforts on developing those skills. He became an apprentice carpenter with The Mitchell Company and eventually worked his way up to Master Carpenter. After nine years with The Mitchell Company, Ed decided to start his own carpentry company and subcontracts with several construction firms, including The Mitchell Company. He is well-liked and respected by others in the construction industry and is known for his ability to bring projects in on time and on budget.

Ed dated casually over the years, but never had any serious relationships until he met Dani Brady in 1989. He was immediately smitten with the vivacious Dani and was surprised to find she was interested in him as well. Dani's exuberant approach to life was the perfect compliment to Ed's reserved nature and the couple married in 1990. Ed first met Dani's best friend, Zoe Chase (then Nancy Neidelmen), just before the wedding. Dani and Nancy drove nearly everyone to distraction with pranks and general tomfoolery in the days leading up to the wedding. Ed was somewhat intimidated by Dani's close friendship with Nancy and didn't utter a word of protest when they were late for the rehearsal dinner or when they disappeared for almost an hour during the reception or even when he found out the reason for their absence - they had been setting up little practical jokes all around and outside the reception hall to play on the unsuspecting guests. Not everyone appreciated Dani's antics at the wedding or in the years that followed, especially Ed's mother, but Ed found his wife's eccentricities endearing.

When Dani gave birth to twin girls in 1992, Ed couldn't have been more thrilled. He is very proud of "his three beautiful girls" and delights in doing things to make them happy. He renovated the kitchen in their home to suit Dani's preferences and built a playhouse in their backyard for the girls. In his spare time, Ed enjoys attending his daughters' soccer games and playing football or basketball with his friends. He is also an avid professional football fan and is proud to call himself a die-hard supporter of the Tennessee Titans.