Mary G. Keel Benefiel, 81, passed away Saturday, December 27, 2008 at the Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS. She was born May 11, 1927 to the late Jessie Cleveland and Birdie Nelson Griffis in Belen, MS. She retired from South Central Bell’s marketing department. She was a member of New El Bethel Baptist Church in Tula, MS and the Pioneers – a Bell South organization.
The visitation will be held Monday, December 29, 2008 from 5 to 7 PM at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, MS. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM in Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks Funeral Home with Rev. Jimmy Sockwell and Rev. Charles Keel presiding. The committal will by held in New El Bethel Cemetery in Tula, MS with Chris Griffis, James Christopher Griffis, Ray Meredith, Mark Keel, Jason Gullette, Junior Bratton, and James Martin White.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet Bratton of Water Valley, MS; 3 granddaughters, Kristina Lynn Bratton Dixson, Angela Michelle Hastings and Tammy Marie Bratton; 2 great grandchildren, Chelsea Nichole Hastings and Shawn Ivy Hastings; 2 step-sons, Bill Benefiel and Tom Benefiel of Memphis, TN; 5 step-grandchildren and 24 step great grandchildren.
Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Duel Howard Keel and James N. Benefiel; 4 sisters, Clara Mae Griffis, Jessie B. Griffis, Eileen Harrison, Ruby Puckett; and 3 brothers, Sherman Griffis, Thomas Griffis, and James Carl Griffis.