Louise Davis Bentley

Dr. Louise Davis Bentley, daughter of Phillip and Laura Davis (both deceased) of Crestview, Florida, and Emeritus Professor of English from Union University, died June 10, 2015 at 5:10 PM at the age of 85. Funeral services were held at the Grace Presbyterian Church (PCA), 1046 Campbell Street, Jackson, TN, at 10:30 AM on June 13, 2015, with Rev. Brent Sadler officiating.

She was married for 61 years to Dr. H. Blair Bentley (deceased), Emeritus Professor of History from Dyersburg State Community College (DSCC). Their three children are VICKY, husband Dr. Steven Smith, and her only granddaughter Kinsey, husband Zachary Hudson and Reese, only great grandchild in Murfreesboro, TN; SHARI, husband Col. (USAF Retired) Glenn Hanbey and their three sons: Devon, wife Megan, Lance, and Logan, in Auburn, WA; Dr. RANDALL Bentley, wife Melody and their three sons, Preston, Jonathan, and Robert in Fairfax, VA.

A native of Crestview, FL, she was graduated as valedictorian in 1947. Active in church and community groups all her life, she also held degrees from Bob Jones University, the University of Southern California, and Middle Tennessee State University in English and Humanities. She retired in 1995 after teaching English and Humanities for 40 years, mostly at the college level in South Carolina, Colorado, and Tennessee (Bryan College, DSCC, and Union University). A longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma, she belonged to several professional organizations of her discipline such as the Conference on Christianity and Literature, presented papers regularly for the Tennessee Philological Association – of which she served as State President – and was published in the ROBERT FROST REVIEW.

Serving at Union University her last 14 years of teaching, she held many offices such as President of the Faculty Forum and was Chairman of numerous committees. She was the only professor at Union ever to be chosen Outstanding Faculty of the Year twice. She and her husband spent 7 weeks as volunteers teaching conversational English in the Peoples’ Republic of China in 1991, 5 weeks as volunteers and teachers in Japan in 1993, and in Mexico City as TEAM consultants in 1998.

Also active all her life in church activities, she was a member of Grace Presbyterian Church where she served in numerous roles but especially as her husband’s assistant in the Adult Sunday School class. A member of her church choir wherever she lived, she was also a faithful patron of the Jackson Symphony. After her retirement she became a volunteer at Jackson–Madison County Hospital for many years as well as a reader for Guiding Hands for the Blind. She was an approved 55 ALIVE (AARP) instructor and served as a Trainer for West Tennessee new instructors. She spent many years as Scholarship Chairman for the Union University Auxiliary in helping raise money for college scholarships for juniors and seniors and mentored Union students until her death.

Active Pallbearers to serve are Dr. Randall Bentley, Dr. Steven Smith, Col. (USAF Retired) Glenn Hanbey, Mr. Zachary Hudson, Mr. John Ford, and Mr. George Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers are Mrs. Marilyn Smothers, Dr. Howard Newell, Mrs. Linda Pledge, Mr. John David Barham, Dr. Pat Morris, and Dr. Eric Muir.

Memorials may be sent to Grace Presbyterian Church, 1046 Campbell Street (P. O. Box 3193, Jackson, TN 38303) and/or to Union University Auxiliary Scholarships (Union University, 1050 University Union Drive, Jackson, TN 38305).

Calling hours were 5-9 PM on Friday, June 12, 2015, at George A. Smith and Sons North Chapel, 2812 N. Highland, Jackson, as well as Saturday, June 13, 2015 from 9:30 – 10:30 am at Grace Presbyterian Church, 1046 Campbell Street, Jackson, TN.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!