Marcelena Helen Benner

Private family internment service will be on November 5 at Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery. A public memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Marcelena married Robert Glenn Benner December 30, 1950. This December 30th they would have celebrated their 75th year of marriage.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Helen Mae Mattocks, her brother Denny Mattocks, her son Michael Cambrek Benner, grandchildren Enos Benner and Kristen Benner, and great granddaughter Sadie Ladd.

She is survived by her husband Robert Glenn Benner and their children: David & Terry Benner, Brenda & Gary Ladd, Linda Benner, Stephen & Stephanie Benner, Marcy & Eric Sotelo and their daughter-in-law, Sharon Benner. Grandchildren: Ammon, Sarah, John, Josh, James, Rebecca, Austin, Ryan, Dustin, Derek, Drew, and Ryah. They were also blessed with 18 great grandchildren, and 6 nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sister Joyce Ann Cate.

Marcelena spent her early years in Oklahoma. While in elementary school, her family moved to Houston, Texas where she graduated from Milby High School and was drum major her senior year. Marcy’s gift and love of music was passed on to the many piano students she taught through the years. Her greatest passion was serving the Lord through playing the piano for many churches who were blessed by her God given talent to accompany in worship. Marcy attended San Jacinto College where she studied music. She also worked for the Union Baptist Association as well as working for several churches doing clerical and financial work.

She is best remembered by her children as the mom who made us feel loved by the way she served her family tirelessly. From long nights of sewing whatever project, costume or clothes we might need, driving us to the endless number of activities we all participated in, giving us opportunities that allowed us to learn and grow and for faithfully taking us to church to make sure we had the opportunity to know and love God. She was a daughter who helped take care of her mother during difficult years and a sister who loved her big brother Denny who introduced her to the love of her life (dad) and her younger sister Joyce who grew up in many ways as part of the family. She loved her daughters-in-law and son-in-laws as if they were her own. She always had a heart for anyone in need, and she took care of many beyond her own family selflessly. To know our mother was to be loved unconditionally and to be always given grace.