Bea Benac

Amory – Jewel Beatrice “Bea” Benac, 93, died on October 23, 2013, at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center. Born on December 26, 1919, in Gattman, she was the daughter of the late Bernard Dexter and Effie Lee Blair Lockhart.

Mrs. Benac was a graduate of Greenwood Springs High School, Class of 1938. On May 6, 1945, she married William Harold “Bill” Benac. Living in Cohoes, NY, for 29 years, Mrs. Benac worked for NY State Department of Labor as an Unemployment Insurance Accounts Examiner for 20 years. While living in New York, she enjoyed going to Broadway plays and traveling to Saratoga for the horse races and Summer Concert series. Retiring in 1975, she and her husband moved to Amory. As a member of First United Methodist Church, Mrs. Benac was active in UMW and Friendship Sunday school class. Loving, caring and friendly, she enjoyed feeding and watching birds, eating out with friends, playing Canasta, and politics. Mrs. Benac’s hobbies were reading, crossword puzzles, watching golf and the Atlanta Braves on television, and talking on the telephone. She was a member of the Retired Civil Service Employees Association, AARP, and the American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include her sister-in-law, Mary B. Lockhart, Amory; nieces, Beth Deets, Wesson, Rebecca Lockhart House (Robert), Jackson; nephews, Ted Lockhart (Debbie), Fairfax, VA, Terry Lockhart (Kina), Mendenhall, Greg Lockhart (Becky), Wesson, David McMahon (Maureen), Green Island, NY; great-nephews, Josh Lockhart (Tanya), Birmingham, AL, Davis House, Jackson; and special friends and caregivers, Marie McIntosh and Nancy Reed.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Odell, Delford, and Hershel Lockhart.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, October 26 at E. E. Pickle Funeral Home with Rev. Don McCain and Dr. Allen Simpson officiating. Burial will follow in Masonic Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jason Gallop, Earl Bunch, Charles Riley, Larry Johnson, Curtis Lewellen, Charles Sisson, and her nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 – 7 PM, Friday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 147, Amory, MS 38821 or to a charity of choice.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at eepicklefuneralhome.com.