Bennie Mae Reynolds was born in Troy, Alabama on Wednesday, July 13th, 1904. She was the only daughter of John Benjamin Reynolds and Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds. She had two brothers, John William, who died as an infant, and James Reuben who was seventeen months older than Bennie. Bennie's father died seven months before she was born.
Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds moved home with Pepaw (William K. Abbitt) and Mema (Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt) after her husband died. Bennie and Reuben grew up in this household in Saco, about 15 miles from Troy, Al. They grew up farming, and Bennie had a pet calf named Warnie, she never cared too much for pets, but she loved this calf and kept a lock of hair from its tail in her cedar chest.
Once when Bennie and Reuben was at school, the school was moved across the street to make room for a new church. The one room school house was hoisted onto logs and rolled to the new location. Bennie said that the children rode inside the school house as it was moved. She said she could remember looking out the window and she thought they'd never get it moved – it took all day. A picture of the school house appears on the following pages. She also talked of the "meanest boy that ever lived", Olin Green. She said that he'd hold one end of the jump rope and when she'd go to jump he'd pull the rope so it would whip her legs.
Sometime between 1916 and 1917, when Bennie was only 12 or 13 years old, she moved with her mother to Phenix City when she went to work in the cotton mill. Reuben moved with them, but decided he'd rather farm and went back to live with Mema and Pepaw.
Bennie saw Curtis Frederick Benefield walk by her house every day; she said she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was working in a steam laundry. She said hello to him one day and he began talk with her as he passed by. They married on December 24th, 1921, she was seventeen and Curtis was thirty-two. Curtis changed jobs and worked in the Cotton Mills as a Cotton Weigher. Bennie's mother lived with them and worked in the mill as a Roper.
Curtis and Bennie had four children:
Curtis F. Benefield jr, b: January 25th, 1923. He married Della Linton.
William Ralph Benefield, b: November 22nd, 1924. He married Dorothy Ming.
Joseph Irwin Benefield, b: September 29th, 1926. He married Yolanda Morales
Mary Frances Benefield, b: October, 13th, 1928. She married Robert Leroy Propst.
Bennie wanted her grandchildren to call her "Mema", because that's what her grandmother Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt was called.
Mema had a great memory and could remember all the details of her family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Whenever anybody needed to know something about the family they'd always call on her. I remember going to the cemeteries with her and she'd tell us about just about all the folks buried all around. She'd tell us so many things that I wish I knew now.
She was very active member at St. Patrick's church and a member of the Sodality. Harold Grant told me that she carried a lot of clout within St. Patrick's. When a new father had been assigned to the church, he told the Sodality that the housekeeper would no longer be necessary to help in the kitchen. Mema told him otherwise, but he insisted that she would not be coming to work. After a few more exchanges, Harold said Mema told him "I'm as sick as a buzzard, and I think I'm going to throw up all over you", she then left, went and got the housekeeper to work at the breakfast and she was there every week from then on. Harold said that after a remodeling of the Church a stained glass window of Jesus at Gethsemane ended up with strips of molding in front of it, the effect was to give it a more modern look. Mema came in to a half full church, went to her pew, genuflected and said out loud, "I'm sorry they've put you in a prison". The molding was removed that week. Everyone loved Mema at the church. She always made food and cakes for the dinners.
Mema was also active with the Senior Citizens Club of Phenix City. She went of several trips with them. Mae Phelps' cousin, Ida, told me Mema saved her life on one of these trips, I believe Ida told me that at Gatlinburg she had stepped back off a step on a staircase and Mema caught her before she fell – she said it was a long high staircase and she was almost at the top. She also made many ceramics with the Senior Citizens; a few of them are pictured on the following pages.
She didn't slow down much until she was close to eighty. She had learned to drive at age 65, she continued to take trips, sew and cook dinner and cakes for her family and church. There was never a time that I can remember that she didn't have at least one cake in her kitchen.
In her eighties she developed Alzheimer's and could not connect recent events. She could still remember the very old family histories and loved to talk about them. She stayed with her daughter, Mary Frances Propst part of the year and would stay with her son, Joseph I. Benefield in Florida the other time. She died in Phenix City, ten months and ten days after her brother, Reuben had died. She was in her 85th year. She is buried at Ladonia Cemetery next to her husband Curtis F. Benefield and two of her children, Curtis F. Benefield jr., and William Ralph Benefield.
______________________
Obituary from Columbus Enquirer
Bennie Reynolds Benefield
Bennie Reynolds Benefield, 84, of 1516 Broad St., Phenix City, died Sunday at her residence.
A graveside funeral will be Tuesday at Ladonia Cemetery, Phenix City, with the time to be announced by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Phenix City.
Mrs. Benefield was born July 13, 1904, in Pike County, Ala., daughter of John Benjamin and Mary Louisa Reynolds. She was a homemaker and a resident of Phenix City for 73 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, and the Blessed Virgin Sodality.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Joseph I. Benefield of Lake City, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Francis Propst of Smiths, Ala.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.
Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds moved home with Pepaw (William K. Abbitt) and Mema (Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt) after her husband died. Bennie and Reuben grew up in this household in Saco, about 15 miles from Troy, Al. They grew up farming, and Bennie had a pet calf named Warnie, she never cared too much for pets, but she loved this calf and kept a lock of hair from its tail in her cedar chest.
Once when Bennie and Reuben was at school, the school was moved across the street to make room for a new church. The one room school house was hoisted onto logs and rolled to the new location. Bennie said that the children rode inside the school house as it was moved. She said she could remember looking out the window and she thought they'd never get it moved – it took all day. A picture of the school house appears on the following pages. She also talked of the "meanest boy that ever lived", Olin Green. She said that he'd hold one end of the jump rope and when she'd go to jump he'd pull the rope so it would whip her legs.
Sometime between 1916 and 1917, when Bennie was only 12 or 13 years old, she moved with her mother to Phenix City when she went to work in the cotton mill. Reuben moved with them, but decided he'd rather farm and went back to live with Mema and Pepaw.
Bennie saw Curtis Frederick Benefield walk by her house every day; she said she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was working in a steam laundry. She said hello to him one day and he began talk with her as he passed by. They married on December 24th, 1921, she was seventeen and Curtis was thirty-two. Curtis changed jobs and worked in the Cotton Mills as a Cotton Weigher. Bennie's mother lived with them and worked in the mill as a Roper.
Curtis and Bennie had four children:
Curtis F. Benefield jr, b: January 25th, 1923. He married Della Linton.
William Ralph Benefield, b: November 22nd, 1924. He married Dorothy Ming.
Joseph Irwin Benefield, b: September 29th, 1926. He married Yolanda Morales
Mary Frances Benefield, b: October, 13th, 1928. She married Robert Leroy Propst.
Bennie wanted her grandchildren to call her "Mema", because that's what her grandmother Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt was called.
Mema had a great memory and could remember all the details of her family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Whenever anybody needed to know something about the family they'd always call on her. I remember going to the cemeteries with her and she'd tell us about just about all the folks buried all around. She'd tell us so many things that I wish I knew now.
She was very active member at St. Patrick's church and a member of the Sodality. Harold Grant told me that she carried a lot of clout within St. Patrick's. When a new father had been assigned to the church, he told the Sodality that the housekeeper would no longer be necessary to help in the kitchen. Mema told him otherwise, but he insisted that she would not be coming to work. After a few more exchanges, Harold said Mema told him "I'm as sick as a buzzard, and I think I'm going to throw up all over you", she then left, went and got the housekeeper to work at the breakfast and she was there every week from then on. Harold said that after a remodeling of the Church a stained glass window of Jesus at Gethsemane ended up with strips of molding in front of it, the effect was to give it a more modern look. Mema came in to a half full church, went to her pew, genuflected and said out loud, "I'm sorry they've put you in a prison". The molding was removed that week. Everyone loved Mema at the church. She always made food and cakes for the dinners.
Mema was also active with the Senior Citizens Club of Phenix City. She went of several trips with them. Mae Phelps' cousin, Ida, told me Mema saved her life on one of these trips, I believe Ida told me that at Gatlinburg she had stepped back off a step on a staircase and Mema caught her before she fell – she said it was a long high staircase and she was almost at the top. She also made many ceramics with the Senior Citizens; a few of them are pictured on the following pages.
She didn't slow down much until she was close to eighty. She had learned to drive at age 65, she continued to take trips, sew and cook dinner and cakes for her family and church. There was never a time that I can remember that she didn't have at least one cake in her kitchen.
In her eighties she developed Alzheimer's and could not connect recent events. She could still remember the very old family histories and loved to talk about them. She stayed with her daughter, Mary Frances Propst part of the year and would stay with her son, Joseph I. Benefield in Florida the other time. She died in Phenix City, ten months and ten days after her brother, Reuben had died. She was in her 85th year. She is buried at Ladonia Cemetery next to her husband Curtis F. Benefield and two of her children, Curtis F. Benefield jr., and William Ralph Benefield.
______________________
Obituary from Columbus Enquirer
Bennie Reynolds Benefield
Bennie Reynolds Benefield, 84, of 1516 Broad St., Phenix City, died Sunday at her residence.
A graveside funeral will be Tuesday at Ladonia Cemetery, Phenix City, with the time to be announced by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Phenix City.
Mrs. Benefield was born July 13, 1904, in Pike County, Ala., daughter of John Benjamin and Mary Louisa Reynolds. She was a homemaker and a resident of Phenix City for 73 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, and the Blessed Virgin Sodality.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Joseph I. Benefield of Lake City, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Francis Propst of Smiths, Ala.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.
Bennie Mae Reynolds was born in Troy, Alabama on Wednesday, July 13th, 1904. She was the only daughter of John Benjamin Reynolds and Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds. She had two brothers, John William, who died as an infant, and James Reuben who was seventeen months older than Bennie. Bennie's father died seven months before she was born.
Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds moved home with Pepaw (William K. Abbitt) and Mema (Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt) after her husband died. Bennie and Reuben grew up in this household in Saco, about 15 miles from Troy, Al. They grew up farming, and Bennie had a pet calf named Warnie, she never cared too much for pets, but she loved this calf and kept a lock of hair from its tail in her cedar chest.
Once when Bennie and Reuben was at school, the school was moved across the street to make room for a new church. The one room school house was hoisted onto logs and rolled to the new location. Bennie said that the children rode inside the school house as it was moved. She said she could remember looking out the window and she thought they'd never get it moved – it took all day. A picture of the school house appears on the following pages. She also talked of the "meanest boy that ever lived", Olin Green. She said that he'd hold one end of the jump rope and when she'd go to jump he'd pull the rope so it would whip her legs.
Sometime between 1916 and 1917, when Bennie was only 12 or 13 years old, she moved with her mother to Phenix City when she went to work in the cotton mill. Reuben moved with them, but decided he'd rather farm and went back to live with Mema and Pepaw.
Bennie saw Curtis Frederick Benefield walk by her house every day; she said she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was working in a steam laundry. She said hello to him one day and he began talk with her as he passed by. They married on December 24th, 1921, she was seventeen and Curtis was thirty-two. Curtis changed jobs and worked in the Cotton Mills as a Cotton Weigher. Bennie's mother lived with them and worked in the mill as a Roper.
Curtis and Bennie had four children:
Curtis F. Benefield jr, b: January 25th, 1923. He married Della Linton.
William Ralph Benefield, b: November 22nd, 1924. He married Dorothy Ming.
Joseph Irwin Benefield, b: September 29th, 1926. He married Yolanda Morales
Mary Frances Benefield, b: October, 13th, 1928. She married Robert Leroy Propst.
Bennie wanted her grandchildren to call her "Mema", because that's what her grandmother Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt was called.
Mema had a great memory and could remember all the details of her family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Whenever anybody needed to know something about the family they'd always call on her. I remember going to the cemeteries with her and she'd tell us about just about all the folks buried all around. She'd tell us so many things that I wish I knew now.
She was very active member at St. Patrick's church and a member of the Sodality. Harold Grant told me that she carried a lot of clout within St. Patrick's. When a new father had been assigned to the church, he told the Sodality that the housekeeper would no longer be necessary to help in the kitchen. Mema told him otherwise, but he insisted that she would not be coming to work. After a few more exchanges, Harold said Mema told him "I'm as sick as a buzzard, and I think I'm going to throw up all over you", she then left, went and got the housekeeper to work at the breakfast and she was there every week from then on. Harold said that after a remodeling of the Church a stained glass window of Jesus at Gethsemane ended up with strips of molding in front of it, the effect was to give it a more modern look. Mema came in to a half full church, went to her pew, genuflected and said out loud, "I'm sorry they've put you in a prison". The molding was removed that week. Everyone loved Mema at the church. She always made food and cakes for the dinners.
Mema was also active with the Senior Citizens Club of Phenix City. She went of several trips with them. Mae Phelps' cousin, Ida, told me Mema saved her life on one of these trips, I believe Ida told me that at Gatlinburg she had stepped back off a step on a staircase and Mema caught her before she fell – she said it was a long high staircase and she was almost at the top. She also made many ceramics with the Senior Citizens; a few of them are pictured on the following pages.
She didn't slow down much until she was close to eighty. She had learned to drive at age 65, she continued to take trips, sew and cook dinner and cakes for her family and church. There was never a time that I can remember that she didn't have at least one cake in her kitchen.
In her eighties she developed Alzheimer's and could not connect recent events. She could still remember the very old family histories and loved to talk about them. She stayed with her daughter, Mary Frances Propst part of the year and would stay with her son, Joseph I. Benefield in Florida the other time. She died in Phenix City, ten months and ten days after her brother, Reuben had died. She was in her 85th year. She is buried at Ladonia Cemetery next to her husband Curtis F. Benefield and two of her children, Curtis F. Benefield jr., and William Ralph Benefield.
______________________
Obituary from Columbus Enquirer
Bennie Reynolds Benefield
Bennie Reynolds Benefield, 84, of 1516 Broad St., Phenix City, died Sunday at her residence.
A graveside funeral will be Tuesday at Ladonia Cemetery, Phenix City, with the time to be announced by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Phenix City.
Mrs. Benefield was born July 13, 1904, in Pike County, Ala., daughter of John Benjamin and Mary Louisa Reynolds. She was a homemaker and a resident of Phenix City for 73 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, and the Blessed Virgin Sodality.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Joseph I. Benefield of Lake City, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Francis Propst of Smiths, Ala.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.
Mary Louisa Abbitt Reynolds moved home with Pepaw (William K. Abbitt) and Mema (Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt) after her husband died. Bennie and Reuben grew up in this household in Saco, about 15 miles from Troy, Al. They grew up farming, and Bennie had a pet calf named Warnie, she never cared too much for pets, but she loved this calf and kept a lock of hair from its tail in her cedar chest.
Once when Bennie and Reuben was at school, the school was moved across the street to make room for a new church. The one room school house was hoisted onto logs and rolled to the new location. Bennie said that the children rode inside the school house as it was moved. She said she could remember looking out the window and she thought they'd never get it moved – it took all day. A picture of the school house appears on the following pages. She also talked of the "meanest boy that ever lived", Olin Green. She said that he'd hold one end of the jump rope and when she'd go to jump he'd pull the rope so it would whip her legs.
Sometime between 1916 and 1917, when Bennie was only 12 or 13 years old, she moved with her mother to Phenix City when she went to work in the cotton mill. Reuben moved with them, but decided he'd rather farm and went back to live with Mema and Pepaw.
Bennie saw Curtis Frederick Benefield walk by her house every day; she said she thought he was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He was working in a steam laundry. She said hello to him one day and he began talk with her as he passed by. They married on December 24th, 1921, she was seventeen and Curtis was thirty-two. Curtis changed jobs and worked in the Cotton Mills as a Cotton Weigher. Bennie's mother lived with them and worked in the mill as a Roper.
Curtis and Bennie had four children:
Curtis F. Benefield jr, b: January 25th, 1923. He married Della Linton.
William Ralph Benefield, b: November 22nd, 1924. He married Dorothy Ming.
Joseph Irwin Benefield, b: September 29th, 1926. He married Yolanda Morales
Mary Frances Benefield, b: October, 13th, 1928. She married Robert Leroy Propst.
Bennie wanted her grandchildren to call her "Mema", because that's what her grandmother Lucy Frances Graddy Abbitt was called.
Mema had a great memory and could remember all the details of her family, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Whenever anybody needed to know something about the family they'd always call on her. I remember going to the cemeteries with her and she'd tell us about just about all the folks buried all around. She'd tell us so many things that I wish I knew now.
She was very active member at St. Patrick's church and a member of the Sodality. Harold Grant told me that she carried a lot of clout within St. Patrick's. When a new father had been assigned to the church, he told the Sodality that the housekeeper would no longer be necessary to help in the kitchen. Mema told him otherwise, but he insisted that she would not be coming to work. After a few more exchanges, Harold said Mema told him "I'm as sick as a buzzard, and I think I'm going to throw up all over you", she then left, went and got the housekeeper to work at the breakfast and she was there every week from then on. Harold said that after a remodeling of the Church a stained glass window of Jesus at Gethsemane ended up with strips of molding in front of it, the effect was to give it a more modern look. Mema came in to a half full church, went to her pew, genuflected and said out loud, "I'm sorry they've put you in a prison". The molding was removed that week. Everyone loved Mema at the church. She always made food and cakes for the dinners.
Mema was also active with the Senior Citizens Club of Phenix City. She went of several trips with them. Mae Phelps' cousin, Ida, told me Mema saved her life on one of these trips, I believe Ida told me that at Gatlinburg she had stepped back off a step on a staircase and Mema caught her before she fell – she said it was a long high staircase and she was almost at the top. She also made many ceramics with the Senior Citizens; a few of them are pictured on the following pages.
She didn't slow down much until she was close to eighty. She had learned to drive at age 65, she continued to take trips, sew and cook dinner and cakes for her family and church. There was never a time that I can remember that she didn't have at least one cake in her kitchen.
In her eighties she developed Alzheimer's and could not connect recent events. She could still remember the very old family histories and loved to talk about them. She stayed with her daughter, Mary Frances Propst part of the year and would stay with her son, Joseph I. Benefield in Florida the other time. She died in Phenix City, ten months and ten days after her brother, Reuben had died. She was in her 85th year. She is buried at Ladonia Cemetery next to her husband Curtis F. Benefield and two of her children, Curtis F. Benefield jr., and William Ralph Benefield.
______________________
Obituary from Columbus Enquirer
Bennie Reynolds Benefield
Bennie Reynolds Benefield, 84, of 1516 Broad St., Phenix City, died Sunday at her residence.
A graveside funeral will be Tuesday at Ladonia Cemetery, Phenix City, with the time to be announced by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, Phenix City.
Mrs. Benefield was born July 13, 1904, in Pike County, Ala., daughter of John Benjamin and Mary Louisa Reynolds. She was a homemaker and a resident of Phenix City for 73 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Phenix City, and the Blessed Virgin Sodality.
Survivors include a son, Dr. Joseph I. Benefield of Lake City, Fla.; a daughter, Mary Francis Propst of Smiths, Ala.; nine grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren.
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