Bessie Benton

Mrs. Bessie Kinard Benton, 82, of 4251 Hudson Mill Road, Ruffin, entered into her eternal rest Saturday morning, December 15, 2012, surrounded by her loving family at Haven Hospice in Orange Park, Florida. She was the wife of the late Mr. James Berkley “J.B.” Benton, Jr. who died in 2008.

Funeral services will be conducted 2 o’clock Thursday afternoon, December 20, 2012, from Pine Grove Baptist Church, No. 1, 99 Pine Grove Road, Walterboro. The Reverend Ken McCaskil officiating. Interment will follow on the family plot in the churchyard.

Born March 7, 1930, a native of Dorchester County, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Eddie Lee Kinard and the late Mamie Alice Bowers Kinard. She and her late husband resided in Fort Myers, Florida until making the Hudson Mill Community of Ruffin their home in 1979. She retired as the office credit manager from W.T. Grants in Fort Myers, Florida, and along with her sister owned and operated B. and H. Grocery at Nyles Cross Roads in Walterboro. She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, No. 1 where she was formerly active in many areas of the church’s work. Bessie was a sweet spirited and loving person, who was devoted to her family, and was an “adopted mother” to many.

Surviving are: a daughter, Alice Benton Walden and her husband Jim of Bryceville, Florida; and a sister, Leona Kinard Hughes of Ruffin. There are four grandchildren, Cale Benton-Pelton, Jimmy Walden, Jr., Cara Judd, and Frank Walden as well as several great grandchildren who also survive. She was preceded in death by a son, Henry Allen Benton.

Flowers will be accepted, or for those that wish, the family has suggested that memorial contributions be directed in her memory to the following: Pine Grove Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 99 Pine Grove Road, Walterboro, South Carolina 29488; or to, Haven Hospice, 745 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, Florida 32065.

For those who desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence as well as memorable recollections about Mrs. Bessie may be shared with the family at the online guestbook, www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.

Family and friends are invited to call from 6:00 until 8:00 this Wednesday evening at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.

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