Lillie Mae (Bedford) Bennett
August 9, 1916-April 20, 2008
NILES - Lillie Mae Bennett, 91, of North Tenth Street, died at 10:48 a.m. Sunday, April 20, 2008, in Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, MI, following an extended illness.
Mrs. Bennett was born on August 9, 1916, in Hernando, MS, to Charlie and Mary (Tate) Bedford. She had lived in Niles since 1945. Lillie helped many Niles families with housekeeping services. Lillie accepted Christ at Union Grove Baptist Church, Hernando, MS, through the pastorate of the Rev. Hezekiah Gooch. She was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles. She invested unusual amounts of time and effort caring for her family, and will be remembered as a respected and loved mother of a very successful family.
She was married to Joseph James "Joe B" Bennett, who died on Jan. 20, 2004.
Mrs. Bennett is survived by her children, Ethel Hightower of South Bend, Christine (Randolph Williams) Cherry of Kalamazoo, Ernestine (Donald) Taylor and Eulah (Cartier Shields) Adams, both of Niles, Nathaniel (Evette) Bedford of Niles and Willie Cherry of Niles; 11 grandchildren, including Staff Sergeant Jesse Adams, U.S. Air Force, and Donald Taylor II; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends including nieces, Forestine (Charles) McCuin of Las Vegas, NV, and Gloria (James) Darby of Milwaukee, WI; and friends, Lonnie and Terry.
She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Willie, Jessie, Charlie, Louis and James Bedford; and by sisters, Laura Wilson, Sallie Boston, Dorothy Bedford, Mildred Howard and Alma Cherry.
The funeral services for Lillie Mae Bennett will be at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, in the New Vision - An Apostolic Faith Assembly in Niles, with District Elder Carlton D. Burrel of New Vision and Rev. Horace G. Howard Jr. of Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church, Blytheville, AR, officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends in the church beginning at 10 a.m. Friday.
Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Bennett may be made to the Patient Activities Fund at Lakeland Specialty Hospital.
Submitted by family member; publication details unknown