Published on: Friday, May 21, 2010

Elmira Leona (Thompson) Bennett

On Monday, May 17, 2010, Elmira Leona (Thompson) Bennett, 93, formerly of Washington, D.C., Spencerville, Maryland, and Jamison, Alabama, died in Elmore, Alabama. She was a longtime resident of Sunbridge Nursing and Convalescent Home, where she was especially loved and cared for by the staff.

Born on August 7, 1915 in Camden, New Jersey, to Harold and Ethel Thompson, she was the eldest of seven children. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, J. William Bennett, a son, Stanley Lawrence Bennett, and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Sabins.

Having lived through the depression, she spent her life in support of her husband’s efforts in public service with Amateur Radio, the American Red Cross, National Cancer Society, and Civil(ian) Defense, in the Washington, D.C., Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County areas during the 1950’s thru the early 1970’s.

She was a lifelong devotee to the Seventh Day Adventist religion and supported the lifestyle, values and convictions of the church. She and her husband often provided duets on Sabbath for church worship singing hymn’s such as, “Others, Lord yes, others, may this my motto be, that I may live for others, may I live like thee.”

She is survived by three daughters: Geraldine McBride and husband Roy of Midland, Texas, Ruth Isaacs and husband Al of Miami, Florida, and Elmira Love and husband Dan of Jamison, Alabama. She is also survived by three sons: Gerald and wife Bonita of Asheville, North Carolina, John William and wife Shirley of Carroll Valley, PA, and son James of Virginia Beach, Virginia. She is also survived by her youngest brother, Donald Thompson of Tennessee, as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She will be laid to rest at a private service in Thorsby, Alabama at the convenience of the family.