Henrietta Benford 1926-2012
A graveside service for Henrietta Benford, 86, of Opelika, was held at 11 a.m. on July 11, at Evergreen Cemetery. Pastor John Lee Hill officiated.
Benford passed on July 4, 2012, at her home. She was a member of Thompson Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church.
Survivors include her six children, Jim (Thelma) Benford and Mary Benford both of Opelika, Ruth Benford, Tallassee, Ella Lee Benford and Mattie Benford both of Opelika and Lizzie Sanders, Birmingham; devoted grandchildren, Willie James Wilson, Theodore Wilson Jr., Mae Benford, Shirley Benford and Nadine Jackson; a number of other grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; a special cousin, Walter Varner, Gaitherburg, Md.; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and caregivers.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
Elvira Knight 1938-2012
A funeral service for Elvira Knight, 74, of Auburn was held at 1 p.m. on July 9, at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church with interment in the church cemetery. Rev. Walter J. Jones officiated.
Knight passed on July 4, at her home. She was a member of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church. She was a member of the Missionary Ministry, the senior choir, the Adult Women’s Sunday School Class and attended Bible Study.
Her remains laid in state at the church one hour prior to the service.
Survivors include one daughter, Eva Mae Knight, Auburn; two grandsons, Jermaine Knight, Auburn and Jackie (Marcella) Knight, Killeen, Texas; five great grandchildren, Desminique (Rolaneo) Parra, Fort Wainwright, Ark., Quintesha Vaughn, Loachapoka, Kayla Knight and Aleigh Knight both of Pensacola, Fla. and Jacquasha Knight, Killeen, Texas; one great-great grandson, Kayden Parra; one sister, Dorothy Mae Maddox, Waverly; five sisters-in-law, Lillian Johnson, Auburn, Eliza Mae Knight and Fannie Mae Knight both of Waverly, Emma Jean Knight, Loachapoka and Lola Pearl Brown, Cleveland, Ohio; one brother-in-law, Willie Knight, Waverly; a caring niece, Shirley Rowell, Waverly; a special friend, Ellen Reeves, Auburn; several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
Madison P. Jones, Jr. 1925-2012
Madison P. Jones, Jr. was born in Nashville in 1925. The distinguished novelist began writing at Vanderbilt where he lettered in football and met prominent teachers of literature who helped start his career. He did graduate work at the University of Florida where he met his wife Shailah.
He came to Auburn University in 1956 and taught there for 37 years. During this time he received many awards and prizes, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, The T.S. Elliot Prize for Fiction, The Harper Lee Award for A Distinguished Alabama Writer and The Michael Shaara Prize for Excellence in Civil War Fiction. Among his novels, An Exile was made into the movie, I Walk the Line.
Jones was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Shailah Jones. He is survived by his five children, Carroll Lofty, Madison Percy Jones, III, Ellen Green, Michael Jones, and Andrew Jones; and his 12 grandchildren.
Visitation was held on Thursday, July 12, 2012, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Fredericks Funeral Home.
A funeral mass will be held today, Friday, July 13, 2012, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Auburn, with Rev. Msgr. William J. Skoneki officiating. Interment will follow in Town Creek Cemetery.
Fredericks Funeral Home is directing.
www.fredericksfh.com
Lois Bryant 1924-2012
A funeral service for Lois Bryant, 88, of Auburn was held at 11 a.m. on July 7, 2012, at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church with interment in Westview Cemetery. Rev. Jonas Rutledge officiated.
Bryant passed on Saturday at Arbor Springs Health and Rehab Center. She was a member of Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church where she sang with the senior choir.
Her remains laid in state at the church one hour prior to the service.
Survivors include one sister, Virginia (Harold) Farrow, Detroit, Mich.; seven nieces, Sandra Bryant Butler, Huntsville Carolyn Vickerstaff and Pam Vickerstaff both of Auburn, Lori (Tony) Phillips, Hampton, Ga., Heather Farrow, Detroit, MI, Joyce (Tommy) Meyers, Palm Beach, Fla. and Barbara Jackson, Cleveland, Ohio; seven Nephews, Ronald (Donna) Vickerstaff, San Antonio, Texas, Michael Vickerstaff, Marshall, Texas, Charles (Ebony) Cooper, Stockbridge, Ga., Lary (Helen) Thomas, Inglewood, Calif., Vance Farrow, Las Vegas, Nev., Donald (Shelia) Bryant, Columbus, Ohio and Dennis Bryant, Memphis, Tenn,; numerous great nieces, great nephews, other family members and friends.
Peterson and Williams Funeral Home directed.
