Elna Jean Bentley

On March 10, 2026, Dr. Elna Jean (“Eljee”) Young Bentley, of Birmingham, Alabama, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. During her final days, she was continuously surrounded by her family and friends.

Eljee was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 18, 1932, to George Webster Young and Elizabeth Dahlen Young. At age four, Eljee moved to Rock Island, Illinois, her beloved hometown on the banks of the Mississippi River. Her father was a pharmacist who owned various local drug stores, where Eljee often worked at their soda fountains during summers and holidays. She had an idyllic childhood.

Eljee graduated from Rock Island High School and then moved on to Denison University, in Granville, Ohio, where she graduated with high honors and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She was then awarded a Fulbright scholarship, which allowed her to study for a year at Exeter University in the United Kingdom. Her travel across the Atlantic on the Queen Elizabeth II ocean liner, as well as her travels throughout England and on the Continent during school breaks, whetted her life-long appetite for foreign travel.

Following her studies abroad, Eljee enrolled in a Ph.D. program in medieval history at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The completion of her degree was interrupted by her marriage to Arthur L. Bentley, Jr. Eljee and her beloved husband had three children in rapid succession, but she still managed to complete her dissertation. She was awarded a doctorate at a ceremony with her sons and daughter in attendance.

Around the time her oldest was starting school, Eljee and Arthur moved to Birmingham, where—apart from a two-year interlude in Denver, Colorado—she spent the rest of her life. Eljee was completely devoted to her children, taking them on exciting trips locally and all over the United States. Somehow, she found a way to make a drive from Birmingham to Mount Rushmore enjoyable. She also served as a Sunday School teacher, Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader, and PTA president, always finding a way to keep the children fully engaged.

As her children were graduating from high school, Eljee began working for the Women’s Missionary Union, an arm of the Southern Baptist convention. There, Eljee worked as an editor and an archivist for 14 years. She also was active in many organizations, including the American Association of University Women, the Alpha Phi Alumnae Association, the League of Women Voters, and the American Heart Association.

Eljee was extremely devoted to her church, the Baptist Church of the Covenant, where she served as a deacon, led an English as a second language program for recent immigrants, and wrote a history of the church. In related work, she served on the Southside Ministries Board of Directors, the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, and the Baptist Heritage Commission of the Baptist World Alliance.

Eljee was most proud of her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and she loved spending time with them. Most summers, she rented a house on the beach where they could all be together.

Eljee was predeceased by her parents, her husband, and her brother, Donald B. Young. She is survived by her three children, A. Lee Bentley, III (Weatherly) of Tampa, Florida; Elizabeth (“Beth”) L. Wilbanks (the late George), of Birmingham; and George G. Bentley (Jodi), of Vienna, Virginia. She is also survived by her seven grandchildren, Bentley Bruhn Danello (Stephen), Thomas (“Tommy”) H.P. Bruhn, Jr., Savannah Bentley, Elna (“Ellie”) Bentley, Annabel Bentley, George H. Bentley, and Katherine (“Kate”) Bentley, as well as her four great-grandchildren, Elizabeth James Danello, Thomas Danello, George Danello, and Elna (“Ellie”) Danello. Finally, Eljee is survived by her sister-in-law, Sharon Young; niece, Susan Fenger (Russ); and nephew, Andrew Young.

On Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM, there will be a memorial service celebrating Eljee’s life at the Baptist Church of the Covenant, 2117 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35233. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Baptist Church of the Covenant (www.baptistchurchofthecovenant.org), Heifer International (www.heifer.org), or the Birmingham Botanical Gardens (www.bbgardens.org).