Hazel Marie Benson

Marie is survived by her husband of 54 years, John B. Benson, McKinney, Texas; her son, Dr. Michael Louis Benson and his wife Denise, Lexington, Ohio; her daughter, Elizabeth Ruth Herrington and her husband Jason, McKinney, Texas; one sister Patricia Teer, Meridian, Miss. Her niece and nephew are Sherry Teer Colson, Bransford, MS and Homer Perry Jr, Coaling, AL. Her grand nieces and nephew are Kaitlyn, Payton and Drew Colson.

Mrs. Benson was a graduate and valedictorian of Lynville Senior High School, Preston, MS, East Miss. Jr. College, Scooba, MS, University of Southern Miss., Hattiesburg, MS, and Scarritt College for Christian Workers, Nashville Tennessee, where she received her Master’s degree in Christian Education.

She taught at Culkin Academy, Vicksburg, MS. She was a teacher at Vashti School for girls from broken homes, Thomasville, Ga. for five years. Vashti was a project of the Women’s Division of Christian Service of the Methodist Church, Riverside Drive, New York City. She also worked in the deaconess office during the late 1950’s.

She became a deaconess of the Methodist Church, in 1957 at Buck Hill Falls, PA

Mrs. Benson taught at Texarkana Arkansas Senior High, 1960-1963, and Springdale, AR Jr. High from 1963-1968. The yearbook of which she was sponsor, won a medalist Award from the Columbia Scholastic Association, NYC. Mrs. Benson taught at her home school in Lynville.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Texarkana, AR, where she volunteered with children and adults in the 1960’s and 70’s.

She received the 1994 Tribute to Women (YWCA) honor and was a 1995 Wilbur Award winner.

For the majority of her career she served as Executive Director of the Texarkana Volunteer Center.

She was a member of AR Beta Chapter Delta Kappa Gamma. She served on several boards in the community, was a Girl Scout leader, and chief editor at Texarkana Resource Directory 1994 and 1997. She was a former member of Order of Eastern Star, Preston, MS. She was on the advisory Board, National Volunteer Center, during the 80’s.

Private family graveside funeral service will be officiated by Rev. Bruce Bennett.

Memorial may be made to First United Methodist Church, 6th and Laurel, Texarkana, AR 71854 or to the HandsOn Texarkana formerly Texarkana Volunteer Center

Condolences may be left at www.eastfuneralhomes.com