Augusta – Mrs. Ralph (Carmen Garrigues McKemie) Bennitt, 88, beloved wife of the late Ralph Anderson Bennitt, Jr., died suddenly yesterday at her home in One Mill Place. She is survived by three children, Laura Garrigus Bennitt, Jeffery William Bennitt and wife Robyn Graham, and Elizabeth Brooks Pearsall. She also had ten grandchildren; Lauren, Rachael, Kara, Katie, James, Virginia, Jeffrey, Robert, Tiffany and Graham, as well as numerous great grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:15 PM on Monday, February 16, 2015 at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity with the Rev. Jacek Szuster officiating. A private burial will follow in the Bennitt family plot at Magnolia Cemetery.
Mrs. Bennitt was a descendent of two Colonial families; a direct descendent of General Louis Garrigues of Oppalousa, Louisiana and a lineal descendent of Andrew Jackson, who was born in the house of her ancestor, George McKemie of Waxhaw, North Carolina.
A resident of Augusta for many years, she was active in the cultural and political life of the city. She was a member of many of organizations, including; the Augusta Country Club, Historic Society of Augusta, Historic Society of Georgia, Huguenot Society of South Carolina, Huguenot Society of Louisiana, Lady to the Noble Order of Templar, Gold Life Master of Bridge, life member of Clan Anderson Society, member of Clan Frazier Society, member of Mensa (Columbia, SC branch), member of library association, serving as president and speaker for the raising of funds for the old library, member of Founders of the Original Republican Party Association, founder of St. Augustine Episcopal Church, serving as the first treasurer, three terms as treasurer of the Augusta Little Theater, twenty five years serving St Joseph hospital in volunteer capacities, docent for four years at Sacred Heart Church, docent for the Old Government House, member of the original group that called the Order of the Sisters of St Helena to Augusta, board member of Augusta Preparatory in its first year, co-chairman of the Community Concert, which was the precursor of the present Augusta Opera, Master chess player, 3rd rank, co-chairman with Mrs. Dwight Eisenhower of TB Christmas Seal 1962, Georgia Chairman of American Host Program, President of Augusta Branch of University Women, Director of League of Women Voters, Board member of Augusta Republican Women, during the early years, Augusta College Reader for the Blind on public radio, ten years of service with Meals on Wheels, and a board member of the Cancer Society, TB Association, Polio Association, Boys Club of Augusta and Girls Club of Augusta.
She was travel editor for Augusta Magazine and had published memorial articles for St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Sacred Heart Cultural Center, St Albans Episcopal Church, St Phillip’s Cathedral (Atlanta, Ga.) and the Bennitt Farm National Monument in North Carolina, as well as short stories and poetry in Noel Magazine, Anglican Digest, Cat Magazine, National Review, Collier’s, St Paul’s Printer, St Francis News Letter Quarterly, and Best Friends, an animal magazine. She had also published several books; “The Old Man”, “Widows Will Weep”, “Set The Earth Firm”, “Harvest and Other Stories” and “Open Season”, a play published by University of Illinois Press.
If so desired, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice, and the family especially requests that they are all remembered in your prayers.