JOAN LOUISE O’BRIEN BENNETT
Joan Bennett was born in Dadeville to Tom and Louise O’Brien. She graduated from Opelika High School in 1948, attended Brenau College and married Luther A. Bennett Jr. in August 1949. They were married for over 69 years until his death in December 2018. Joan was a faith-ful wife who loved being a mother of four, a grandmother of eight and a great-grandmother of 22. She was an 80-year member of First Baptist Church Opelika and a believer in Jesus as her Lord and Savior years earlier. Joan faithfully read her Bible every day until her eyesight failed her.
Joan worked as a bookkeeper at Hagedorn’s, a secretary at Northside School and a bookkeeper at Diversified Financial. Although Joan worked full-time when raising her children, she still enjoyed preparing three meals a day for her family. Joan loved to cook, and cooking for others was her love language. She collected volumes of recipes through the years and compiled those recipes into cookbooks for her children as wedding gifts. Her children and grandchildren have blessed their families with Joan’s recipes. She also loved needlepoint and blessed her family with many needlepoint creations.
Joan and Luther reared their children with a love for camping, including vacations to histori-cal sites, beaches and mountain campgrounds. Later, she and Luther purchased a motor home and camped throughout the United States. Joan also traveled extensively with Friendship Force, making friends in many states and foreign countries, reciprocating by hosting visitors from across the world in her home.
Joan is survived by her three sons, Al (Charlotte) of Chattanooga, Mike (Debra) and Kevin (Ann) of Opelika; daughter, Lisa Anne Bennett Milhorn (Mike) of Kingsport, Tennessee; grandchildren, Tara Meadows (Joe), Shelley Young, Natalie Warren (Aaron), Katie Caroline Klumpp (Murphy), O’Brien Bennett (Katie), Rob Bennett, Luke Bennett (Courtney) and Michael Milhorn (Wendy); and 22 great-grandchildren. Joan is also survived by her beloved sister-in-law, Christine Johnson of Dora.
A graveside funeral service was held Nov. 9. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
All condolences are welcome and memorials may be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes (www.alabamachild.org/give) or the charity of your choice.
W.J. “TRIPP” LEONARD III
William Jurdon Leonard, III, affectionately known as Tripp, passed away Nov. 19, 2024, in Opelika after a brief illness.
Tripp was born in Opelika on Nov. 2, 1963. After graduating from Opelika High School in 1982, he pursued an associate degree in graphic design. However, he quickly realized that sitting behind a desk wasn’t the right fit for his energetic, outgoing personality. He discovered his true passion in property management, where he thrived on interacting with tenants and enjoyed the satisfaction of providing homes for people he considered friends.
In 1989, Tripp married his high school sweetheart, Cindy Klinner. Together, they had two daughters, Ann Marie and Adrienne, who were his pride and joy. Tripp considered it a privilege to create lasting memories for his “girls” through travel and shared experiences.
He had a gift for making everyone feel like a friend, never meeting a stranger. His circle of friends was vast, with hundreds of people who cherished him. It was rare to go anywhere with him without being greeted by someone he knew. He was always ready for a day at the lake, a mountain getaway or simply spending time with his closest friends.
Tripp is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cindy; daughters, Ann Marie and Adrienne Leonard; parents, Billy and Sandra Leonard; brother, James (Katy) Leonard; sister, Kimberly Leonard; nieces, Kathleen Leonard and Olivia (Corey) Freeman; nephew, Banks Leonard; brothers-in-law, Ken Klinner, Johnny (Mary Ellen) Klinner and Karl (Jenny) Klinner; sister-in-law, Leah Klinner; nieces, Amy (Gareth) Bridge, Allyson (Matt) Rumble, Jane Ann Klinner and Ella Kate Klinner; nephews, Alex (Libby) Klinner and Crawford Klinner; and a host of great nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank the countless doctors and nurses at EAMC, The Spencer Cancer Center and The Clinic on 6th for their medical expertise, compassion and guidance during his illness.
A celebration of life was held Nov. 23 at Trinity Methodist Church in Opelika, followed by a graveside service at Garden Hills Cemetery. Frederick-Dean Funeral Home & Crematory assisted the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Trinity Methodist Church or to a charity of your choice.
