Mary Jo Benson Clement, 63, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, August 5, 2003, at Phoebe-Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany. Her funeral service was held at 4:00 p.m. Thursday, August 7, 2003, at Tifton's First Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Roe and the Rev. Dr. W. Ches Smith, III officiating. Mrs. Clement was laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Members of the Adult XII Sunday School Class of Tifton's First Baptist Church served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Bobby Perry, Glenn Lee, Ed Benson, Cutch Bosellie, Larry Peel, Harvey Dail, John Cundiff and Bob Case.
Born September 22, 1939, in Arkansas, Mrs. Clement was the daughter of the late George W. Benson, Jr. and Frances Ramona Edmondson Benson. She was also preceded in death by one brother, George W. "Butch" Benson, Jr.; and one sister, Georgia Katherine Johnson. Before retiring, she worked in Customer Service for Holox Limited; and she was a member of Tifton's First Baptist Church, where she was a member of the choir. She was Valedictorian of Walnut Ridge High School, Class of 1957; and she had lived in Tifton for 31 years.
Mrs. Clement is survived by her husband, Joseph Allen Clement, Sr. of Tifton; two sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph Allen, Jr. and Patricia Creel Clement of Trophy Club, Texas and Stephen Edward and Julie Cochran Clement of Tampa, Florida; one brother, Robert E. Benson of Michigan; two sisters, Betty Ann Snow and Mona Sue Wallis, both of Arkansas; and two grandchildren, Sarah Jane Clement and Connor Clement.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Organ Memorial Fund at Tifton's First Baptist Church, 404 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794.