Stella B. McGinniss

She was born 17 July 1926 in St Petersburg,FL, daughter of Jessie James Porter & Selma Emma Maddox Porter. (94 years & 4 days she lived)

Stella was married 27 June 1942 to Earnest Richard Bennett, and they had 3 daughters, Patricia (Ralph) Hardesty, Diane (Ralph) Soward, and Judy Bennett. They had grandchildren Debbie (Todd) Thacker, Lisa (Steve) Smiley, Tony (Heidi) Soward, Tim (Connie) Hardesty, Christy (Josh) Webber & Great Grands: Megan Smiley & Tyler Watkins, Cinamon Hardesty, Skyler Hardesty. Zachary, Travis & Dylan Thacker, Taylor & Angelique Soward, Stella leaves behind one sister Joy Porter Hunter. Stella remarried to Thomas 21 Feb 1987.

Stella was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands Earnest R. Bennett (1979) and Thomas P. McGinniss (2005), daughters Judy Bennett (2009) & Diane Bennett Soward (2013), sister Ruth Porter Raczkowski (2013)

Stella was a School Bus driver for Sarasota County for 23 years. She loved traveling, and camping with family and friends. She pulled a travel trailer to all 49 states over one summer and camped in each. She got her Driver’s Licenses at the age of 12. Drove a Log Truck and a Model A Ford. She traveled thru England, Ireland, Scotland cruised thru the Panama Canal, saw the Glaciers of Alaska from a cruise ship.she had a great life.

Stella, was a very loving, kind, gentle Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mom, Aunt and Friend to all. She was called Nana by all her Grand & Great Grand children and many of her friends. She was a Baptist, member of Sarasota Baptist Church on Proctor Road, she loved her God, and he took her by his hands and she is in Heaven with him now. Will be greatly missed by us all. We are having a private Graveside Service and plan to have a Celebration of her life for her 95th birthday 2021.