Dorothy Harms Benner

Mrs. Dorothy Benner, 93, of Faunsdale, AL., passed away Friday, December 27, 2024 at Oakwood Retirement Community, Brooksville, MS. A funeral service is planned for Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at Cedar Crest Mennonite Church in Fawnsdale, AL  at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m. Monday.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cedarcrest Mennonite Memorial Fund.   Cockrell Funeral Home is honored to entrusted with arrangements. 

Dorothy Ilene Benner was born January 27, 1931, to Harry and Gladys Harms at Ithaca, Michigan. She peacefully left us on December 27, 2024, at Oakwood Retirement Community reaching the age of 93 years.  On March 7, 1946, upon the confession of her faith, she was baptized by Minister Glen Litwiller into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. She remained faithful until the end.  On November 7, 1948, she was joined in marriage to Leon Benner at Newark Church, Ithaca, Michigan. They enjoyed almost 53 years together. They were blessed with two sons and two daughters.  In the year 2005, she was married to Dick Johnson. After a brief time together, she again assumed the Benner name.  Our dear mother loved the Lord and often said that Jesus was her friend. She loved to read the Bible and pray. She was always concerned for her children and grandchildren that they would be saved.

 Those left to cherish precious memories are her four children: Doug and Barbara, Greg and Vicki, Tammy and James Diller, and Carolyn and Andrew Peters, eighteen grandchildren, sixty-one great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren, two sisters, Ruth Benner, Thelma and Gerald Boeckner, and many relatives and friends.

 We also want to express our love and appreciation for the Oakwood staff.