Arletha Benson

Mother Arletha Benson was born December 17, 1929 to the union of MC and Margie Pearson in Blytheville, Arkansas and was the eldest of thirteen children. In 1962, Mother Benson married Greene Benson and was married for 20 years. Mother Benson was employed as the head cook at Wyatt Junction and Barn Hill in Wyatt, Missouri for many years. In 1976, she relocated to East Chicago Heights, Illinois and became employed at the School District #169 in the food service department and later became employed by CEDA Head Start as a cook. She was also known in the community for her baking, sewing and quilting. Mother Benson was a member of the Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church in Wyatt, Missouri, where she served as a Member of the Usher Board. When she relocated to East Chicago Heights she became a member of the Progressive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Ellis Franklin Jr., where she served as the President of Usher Board #1 and later became a Member of the Mothers Board. In 2007, she joined her family as a member of the Pentecostal Church of Christ for All Nations under the leadership of Bishop Gregory St. James Dillard and Pastor Robin Dillard, where she served as a Member of the Mothers Board. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandparents, five grandchildren, five brothers: Troy Stringfellow, S.T. Stringfellow, Jimmy Lee Stringfellow, Willie Edward Stringfellow and Roosevelt Stringfellow; two sisters: Girlie Mae Brown and Yvonne Lane; one brother-in-law: Danny Walker; and one son-in-law: Sgt. Lance H. Jefferson. She is survived by eight daughters: Doris Obilor, Betty Williams, Lady Belinda (Pastor Ellis) Franklin, Veronica Pearson, Sandra Pearson, Deacon Cynthia Benson-Jefferson, Karen Benson and Althea Benson; two sons: Kenneth Benson and Robert (Alycia) Benson; two sisters: Cleo Walker and Charlene Jackson; three brothers: Lawrence (Earlie) Stringfellow, Flamingo (Leronia) Stringfellow and Dennis (Lovely) Stringfellow; 14 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; and her adopted children: Bishop Gregory St. James Dillard, Pastor Robin Dillard, Deacon Yvonne Taylor, Minister Shelia Bennett, Deacon Annette Dillard, Elder Robert Payne, Minister Kevin Moutry, Sean Jackson and Steve Jackson.

Tributes

Arletha Benson

December 17, 1929 - February 26, 2014