Flora Annetta Benn

Mrs. Benn was born in LaPorte, Indiana on June 19, 1924. She was the third daughter of six children born to the late Bishop George Wilbur Baber (63rd Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Denomination) and the late Mrs. Alma Marie Gracie Blondella (Wims) Baber. The majority of Mrs. Benn's life was spent as an active Minister's wife within the 4th District of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church denomination. Mrs. Benn was a faithful Christian who believed in the Holy Trinity: She was a loyal daughter to her beloved parents and a loving sister to her five remaining siblings, though one older sibling passed away a few

months after birth.

During Mrs. Benn's formative years, the Baber family moved from LaPorte, Indiana to Benton Harbor, Michigan. Then from Benton Harbor to Flint, Michigan. After Flint they moved to Detroit,

Michigan where she grew up and attended elementary, junior high and high school. After which, Ms. Benn matriculated to Wilberforce University located near Xenia, Ohio where she majored in Liberal Arts and Sciences. This is where she met her future husband to be Rev. Dr. James Solomon Benn, III. (Big Man on Campus [B.M.O.C.J, ROTC Captain, Assistant Forcean Editor, Athlete, and Assistant to the WU Dean of Men.)

Mrs. Benn's husband previously served his Country proudly during WW II (1941 – 1945). After returning from War, he returned to his studies at Wilberforce University where he completed and

earned his B.A. Degree - Class of 1949. He went on to complete and earn his M.A. Degree from Columbia University - Class of 1950.After a long courtship, on August 12, 1050 Ms. Baber

married Army 2nd Lt. James Solomon Benn, III) at Ebenezer A.M.E. Church in Detroit, Michigan. Immediately following their New York honeymoon, Army 2nd Lt. Benn was notified

again by the U.S. Army Corp. to serve a second stint in the Armed Forces during the Korea War (1950-1952).

During that same time her husband served in the Korean War, Mrs. Benn accompanied her father and younger sister Barbara Dawn overseas. Bishop G. W. Baber was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference at Oxford, England during 1951. While overseas the family also toured parts of Paris and the British Isles during their stay.

Mrs. Benn's husband was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army with several medals of honor acknowledging his service in WW II and the Korean War. Rev. Dr. James Solomon Benn, III was promoted to 1st Lt. Soon after returning to the USA, 1st Lt. Benn received a spiritual awakening and appeal from God to become an A.M.E. Minister. Throughout the course of time Benn became an ordained A.M.E. minister in 1952. And between 1952 and 1954 Rev. Benn attended and graduated from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary (on the Northwestern University campus, Evanston, IL.)

During her early and middle years as a minister's wife and loving Mother to their three children (George, Victoria, and James IV), Mrs. Benn was an active member of various National and local Religious/Secular organizations. Her beloved husband, Rev. Dr. Benn, III, not only was an A.M.E. Minister - he was a Spiritual Visionary who built and renovated some of the religious edifices they were blessed enough to safeguard. Assigned by the A.M.E. Bishop within that particular Episcopal District, Rev. Dr. & Mrs. Benn, III brought a new sense of urgency to each new congregation they met teaching them to learn and understand more about the Glory of God and his teachings. This spiritual couple were assigned to St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Glencoe, IL. (1952 –1955); He Built Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, Peoria, IL. (1955 - 1958); Olivet A.M.E. Church, South Bend, IN. (1959 - 1960); Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church (1960 – 1972) and Hr Renovated the Old Bethel A.M.E. Church (on Vermont Ave.), Indianapolis, IN. (1972 – 1976), Mrs. Benn affiliated herself with the A.M.E. Minister's Wives association; The A.M.E. Sunday School Teachers organization; The local church choir; A featured keynote speaker for numerous Christian Women's events and activities; A featured church soloist; A member of the Estella

Thompson Women's Missionary Society; Lay Organization; Church Women United Organization; The Imperial Credit Union; She also participated as an A.M.E. Vacation Bible School Teacher and supported the Young Peoples Department (Y.P.D.), just to name a few Religious/Secular groups that she loved.

During the late1970's Mrs. Benn accompanied her husband and other A.M.E. minister's and their wives, to The Bermuda Islands, UK.for an A.M.E. Church conference. During her lifetime she enjoyed her airplane and jet flights traveling throughout the United States, Bahamas, Freeport and cruises to Europe. Some of her travel adventures took her to famous American and British landmarks such as New York City to see the Statue of Liberty National Monument, Many Broadway shows, Harlem, Empire State Building and Time Square. Mrs. Benn experienced the vastness of the Grand Canyon National Park, Seeing the Liberty Bell, Enjoying

Mackinaw Island, driving over the Golden Gate Bridge, Visiting the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, President George Washington's Mt. Vernon, VA. Estate, our U.S. Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Frankenmuth, MI., Walt Disney World Resort when it was first built, Buckingham Palace, Madame Toussaud's Wax Museum, the famous Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.

During her latter years at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Detroit, MI. (1976 - 1981) and St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Springfield, IL. (1981 – 2000), Mrs. Benn continued to be an active Minister's Wife and now Devoted new Grandmother to David Elliott, Tracey Annette and Hanna Elizabeth while she still engaged herself as an active member of the Estella Thompson Women's Missionary Society, Springfield Church Women United Organization, contributed to the Imperial Credit Union; Supported the Class Leaders Organization and a member of the Springfield Minister's Wives.

Mrs. Benn had a special appreciation for The Arts (e.g. painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, drama, music [religious and secular], dance, film and photography). She had a great passion and wealth of knowledge pertaining to the historic background associated with the Kings and Queens of the British monarchy from the Plantagenet Royal Family to the Royal House of Windsor.

Mrs. Benn became a devoted wife to her husband of 54 years until his death on March 12, 2004.

A Private Family Service is scheduled for Mrs. Benn to be held at Bisch Funeral Home, 505 East Allen Street, in Springfield, Illinois. Rev. Eve Blackwell Lewis officiate. Mrs. Benn will be laid to rest at Camp Butler Cemetery alongside her beloved husband Rev. Dr. James Solomon Benn, III, a distinguished and decorated veteran of WWII and the Korean War. Flowers and condolences can be sent to Bisch Funeral Home, 505 East Allen Street. Donations may be offered to the Alzheimer's Association - Springfield Office, 2144

MacArthur Bldg., Suite 301, Springfield, Illinois, 62704 or contact 217.726.5184.

Mrs. Benn is preceded in death by both her loving Parents, Bishop George Wilbur Baber and First Lady Mrs. Alma Marie Gracie Blondella (Wim's) Baber of Detroit, MI.; Her Beloved Husband, Rev. Dr. James Solomon Benn, IIl of Springfield, IL; Two younger brothers, Rev. George Wilbur Baber of Sacramento, CA and Mr. Benjamin Shubert Baber of Detroit, MI; Her eldest Sister Mrs. Effie June (Baber) Woodson of Detroit, MI; Her second eldest Sister Dorothy who passed way a few months after birth; Her Sister-in-law Mrs. Frances Delores (Evans) Baber Robinson of Crofton, MD; Nephew Mr. Benjamin Shubert Baber, Jr. of Forestville, MD.;

Brother-in Law Mr. Peter Marlin Crawford of Reston, VA.; Nephew: Mr. David Marlin Crawford of Washington, D.C.; Niece Mrs. Lisa Christia Crawford Bruch of Clinton, Maryland; Step Mother:

First Lady Elvira (Mayfield) Baber of Atlantic City, NJ; Father-in-Law: Rev. James Solomon Benn, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA; Mother-in Law: First Lady Lottie Mae (Carter) Benn of Greenville, S.C.; Brother-in-Law: Mr. Harold Jesse Benn, Sr. of Philadelphia, PA; Step Mother: First Lady Sarah Jane (Cooper) Benn of Philadelphia, PA; And Former Brother-in-Law Theodore Woodson of Detroit, MI.

Mrs. Benn was a loving and gracious Independently thinking Christian Lady, Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Homemaker, Minister's Wife, and Mentor to all who

came in contact with her. Mrs. Benn was a good and dear person to those who considered her a loving family member and dear friend. With the passing of this beloved lady goes the knowledge of a family's connection to our older generational family ancestry and values, terminology and advice from days gone by and remembrances of dear departed family members, friends, the essence of homelife as a ministerial family, unwavering stability, genuine love for others, loyalty to self, family and one's own convictions, sacrifice to family members, sympathy and concern for others no matter what their station in life, and a wealth of life

experience.

Mrs. Benn is survived by her loving daughter and primary caregiver, Ms. Victoria Dawn Benn of Springfield, IL; Her beloved Grand-daughter and secondary caregiver, Mrs. Tracey Annette

Benn-Cockayne, (RDCS) (ARDMS) and Husband: Dr. Thomas John L. Cockayne, Jr.; Great grand-daughters Mckenzie Grace and Kylie Marie Cockayne of Springfield, IL; Two loving sons, Mr. George Henry Benn (Ann) and Mr. James Solomon Benn, IV of Indianapolis, IN; Beloved grand-children Mr. David Elliot Benn (Molly) of Cadillac, MI; Ms. Hanna Elizabeth Benn (Fiancé: Deantoni) of Indianapolis, IN; Her youngest sister Mrs. Barbara Dawn (Baber) Crawford of Chicago, IL; nieces, Rev. Karen Marie Reeve of Silver Springs. M.D. and family; Mrs. Kim (Baber) Black and Husband Michael Black and family; Mrs. Debra (Baber) Pittman (Husband: James) of Henderson, NC; Rev. Alma Faith Crawford and daughter Zi Hutt-Crawford (Josh) and baby Wren of Minneapolis, MN.; Ms. Benita Baber McCrea and family of Temple Hills, MD; Nephew, Rev. Marcus C. Baber-VanLeer and family of Radcliff, KY.; Mr. John and Mrs.

Elizabeth Gore (Godmother to Tracey) & family; Mr. Tom, Sr. and Wife, Mrs. Becky Cockayne and family; Other nieces and nephews, cousins; Current or Retired A.M.E. Bishops (their wives, husbands, and families); Fellow A.M.E. Ministers (their wives, husbands, and families); Fellow A.M.E. Presiding Elders (their wives, husbands and families) and countless friends throughout the Nation.