Lillie Bea Hudson Benenhaley, 79, widow of Frank Luther Benenhaley, died Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, at her home.
Born in Sumter, "Aunt Bea" was a daughter of the late Thomas Edward “Ed” Hudson and Ersell Blackwell Hudson. She was a charter member of Green Acres Assembly of God. “Aunt Bea” was very active in the children’s ministry and served as the director of Children’s Church and as a Sunday School teacher for 38 years.
Survivors include five children, Deborah Baker (Larry), Frank Glenn Benenhaley (Susan), John Allen Benenhaley, and Jeannie Hawkins (Ronnie) all of Sumter, and Molly Powell (Ira) of Flat Rock, NC; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Thomas E. Hudson, Sr. (Carolyn) of Sumter; and three sisters, Betty Black (Marshall) of Manning, and Brenda Lashley (Dwight) and Miriam Collins all of Sumter.
She was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Rev. Donnie E. Collins, Sr.
Funeral services for Lillie Bea Hudson Benenhaley will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Green Acres Assembly of God, with the Rev. Michael Bowman and the Rev. Sammy Geddings officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 2-3 p.m. Friday at Green Acres Assembly of God and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to Green Acres Assembly of God Children’s Department, 537 Lewis Rd., Sumter, SC 29150.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Robert Eagerton, the staff of Embrace Hospice, and Dr. Les Beben for all of their care and compassion.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.
