Funeral services will be at 2 PM Sunday, March 8, 2009 at Crestwood Memorial Chapel for Mrs. Alma Edith Benefield, age 87, of Gadsden, who died on Thursday, March 5, 2009. Bro. David Manjlovich and Bro. Howard Warren will officiate. Burial will be at Crestwood Memorial Cemetery. Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home will direct.
Mrs. Benefield was born and resided most of her life in Etowah County. She was a Jehovah's Witness of West Gadsden Congregation. She loved her flowers and traveling. She loved going to the Great Smoky Mountains. She loved taking care of her house and family. She loved her granddaughters and great-granddaughters. Her greatest joy in life was to be with all of her family and friends. She loved going out to eat with friends. She took care of her husband through his illness for nine years.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years: Marvis "Buck" Benefield; her parents: Sherman and Ethel Bellew; brother: Sherman J. Bellew.
She is survived by her daughter: Vickie (Terry) Gray, Southside; son: Terry (Donna) Benefield, Southside; granddaughters: Lorie Burgess, Southside, Angie (Al) Sanders, Ashville, Ashleigh Benefield, Southside, Soraya Benefield, Southside; great-granddaughters: Cecily Sanders, Cassie Sanders, Ciera Sanders, Ashville, Shayla Burgess, Southside; sister: Betty (Farrell) Lolley, Dothan; brother: Leonard (Jackie) Bellew, Gadsden; sister-in-law: Margie Bellew, Gadsden; special cousin: J.T. (Audrey) Bellew; special nephew: Rodney (Kathy) Stovall; special friends: Marge and Cody Clayton, Teresa and Craig Thompson; a host of nieces, nephews and many friends.
Pallbearers will be Rodney Stovall, Al Sanders, Farrell Lolley, Fred "Sonny" Benefield, Craig Thompson and Jerry Black
Special thanks to Nilmarg and Marshall Stovall; Dr. Webb Sledge; nurses and staff on 5th floor and in the Emergency Dept. at Riverview Regional Medical Center; nurses and staff at Gadsden Health Care.
Family will receive friends from 6pm to 8pm tonight at the funeral home.