Nell Benton

Mrs. Nell Colson Benton, 64, of Walterboro, entered into her state of eternal rest Thursday morning, August 19, 2010, at the Roper Hospital in Charleston.



Funeral services will be conducted 11 oclock Monday morning, August 23, 2010, from the Walterboro Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1035 Dandridge Road, Walterboro, with President Leon Bryan presiding and High Priest Lamont Kinard attending. Final Commendation and dedication of the graveside with committal will follow in Bedon Baptist Churchyard, 2410 Cottageville Highway, Walterboro.



Mrs. Benton was born September 27, 1945 in Colleton County, South Carolina and was a daughter of the late Lonnie Colson and the late Ruth Vernelle Nettles Colson. Ever since a young age, Nell was dedicated to hard work, a trait she learned from her family. For thirty-five years, she was a partner and the Chief Financial Officer of Bentons Pest Control in Walterboro, a business that she along with her late husband founded and dedicated many hours of love and labor too. In her younger years, she was an accounting bookkeeper with Stevenson Finance Company in Walterboro and was also a sales person for the former Warshaws of Walterboro having worked under Mr. Bernard Warshaw.



She was a lifelong member of The Church or Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where she was active in many aspects of the work performed through the Walterboro Branch of which her family was founding members. At the Walterboro Branch, she was a Seminary Teacher, Primary Teacher, Visiting Teacher, Young Womens Teacher, and a Sunday School Teacher. She was also a member and counselor for the Relief Society and a former Pianist. She was the oldest living kidney transplant recipient of thirty-seven years, having had a second transplant after the failure of her first, and was recognized for this paramount accomplishment by being invited by the Medical University of South Carolina to speak at their reception on the Yorktown in Charleston and was also invited to serve as the final Grand Marshall for the annual Cooper River Bridge Run before its closing and the construction of the Don Holt Bridge.



Nell lived a life of virtue and was strongly dedicated to her family and faith. She was active each year in the annual Colleton County Relay for Life as well as was an active advocate for the National Kidney Foundation. She will be fondly remembered for the many attributes that established her life, for her love and devotion, as well as her joy in sewing and crochet work, her talent and love of music and playing the piano, and the beautiful words she composed in her poetry writing.



Surviving are: a son, Kevin William Benton and his wife Catherine Anne Benton of Summerville; a daughter, Stacy Lynn Benton Mixon of North Augusta; a brother, Lonnie T. Timmy Colson and his wife Brenda Colson of Walterboro; and a sister, Lisa C. Gregorich and her husband George Gregorich of Greeneville, Tennessee. There are three grandchildren, Dylan Michael Mixon, William Montgomery Benton, and Samuel LeBoeuf Benton; as well as her mother-in-law, Mrs. Edna Nettles Benton of Sniders; and a brother-in-law, Wendell Wendy Benton and his wife Debbie Benton of Sniders; along with her special friend, Wayne Birchall of Walterboro.



Flowers will be accepted, or for those that wish, the family has respectfully requested that memorial contributions be directed to one of the following organizations that was dear to Nells heart: The National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, New York 10016 or donate at: www.kidney.org; or to Colleton County Relay for Life, 5900 Core Road, Suite 504, North Charleston, South Carolina 29406.



For those that so desire, memorial messages and thoughts of condolence as well as memories of Nell may be shared with the Benton family by visiting: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com.



The family will be at the residence, located at 315 Fourth Street in Walterboro.



Family and friends are invited to call this Sunday from 5:00 until 7:00 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOMES, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro, 843.538.5408.

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