Gertrude Benenhaley

Sumter SC- Gertrude Benenhaley, 96, went to her heavenly home on Sunday, July 12th. Funeral arrangements will be 2 pm Wednesday, July 15th at Long Branch Baptist Church with Dr. Eleazer Benenhaley and the Rev. John Cook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until time of service at the church and Tuesday from 5 to 7 pm at Dyches Funeral Home in Barnwell.
Born in Sumter, SC, Ms. Benenhaley was the daughter of the late Henry Benenhaley and Mary Frances Ray Benenhaley. She attended schools in Sumter County and Taccoa Falls, Georgia. Upon graduation from high school, she attended Toccoa Falls Bible College and focused her studies in Bible, Speech, and Child Study. Upon graduation from Taccoa Falls Bible College, she served children at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in Greenwood, SC for 27 years. While at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, she was a member of Connie Maxwell Baptist Church and was faithful in many activities of the church where she taught a Sunday school class of 12 year old girls for 15 years. She was also a leader of Girls Auxiliary for several years, and she served as prayer chairman for Women’s Missionary Alliance. She retired from Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in 1980 and returned to her home in Dalzell, SC, where she again served her Lord faithfully in her home church, Long Branch Baptist Church. Ms. Benenhaley’s life was dedicated to her Lord and Savior, and she was a tender and compassionate Christian throughout her life. Her focus was always to share Jesus Christ and to tell of his love and saving grace to everyone.
Survivors include 3 sisters, Lois (John) Cook, Alice (Ben) Chase, Ann (Ray) Shoemaker; one brother, John Mark (Bobbie) Benenhaley and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sisters, Gladys Ray, Louise Benenhaley, Estelle Benenhaley, Henrietta Benenhaley, Peggy Hood, Theo Carpenter, Connie Buckner and 2 brothers, Raymond Benenhaley and Ernest Benenhaley.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that memorials be sent to Long Branch Baptist Church, Dalzell, SC or Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, Greenwood, SC.
The family would like to express its appreciation for the loving care of the nurses and staff of the Barnwell County Nursing Home.
The family has entrusted Dyches Funeral Home and Crematory of Barnwell with the arrangements.