Mary Nell Crisp Benfield, 93, of Lenoir went home to be with her Lord and Saviour on Monday, February 23, 2026 at her residence. Mrs. Benfield was born March 1, 1932 in Caldwell County to the late Pinkney Baxter Crisp and Nellie Agnes Martin Crisp.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bliff Benfield, siblings, Provia Waters, Goldie Mills, Alfred Crisp, Horace Crisp, Francis Crisp, William "WC" Crisp and Howard Crisp.
Mrs. Benfield was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a Charter Member of Setzer's Gap Church, a member of the Democratic Women's Club and was Valedictorian of her 1950 graduating Class at Collettsville High School.
A funeral service to honor Mrs. Benfield will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 2:00 pm in the chapel of Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home with Rev. Ken Byerly officiating. Burial will follow the service at Woodlawn Memorial Garden in Lenoir.
The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service, from 12:45 pm until 1:45 pm at Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home.
Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Marty and Jeffrey Benfield of Lenoir, daughters, Cindy Bolick and husband Boyd of Lenoir, Laura Bradley and husband James of New Market, TN, a step-son, Ray Benfield of Asheville, grandchildren, Brian Benfield, Melanie Bolick, Amanda Bolick, Christal Douglas, Taylor Sane, Zachary Sane, Olivia Benfield, Talmadge Bradley and Tabetha Bradley and six great-grandchildren, a sister, Doris Riley of Lenoir.
Pendry's Lenoir Funeral Home is honored to serve the Benfield family.
