Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin

BENJAMIN, Adelaide Wisdom, born in New Orleans on August 23, 1932, the daughter of William Bell Wisdom and Mary Freeman Wisdom, and passionately dedicated to New Orleans, died peacefully at home on May 30, 2026. As an avid reader, storyteller, and scholar late into her life, Adelaide attended Louise S. McGehee School and Hollins College, graduating from Newcomb College, Tulane University in 1954. She went on to attend Tulane Law School, where she was a member of the Tulane Law Review and graduated at the top of her class of 1956. Despite being the only woman in her law school class, she was elected to the Law Review because of her outstanding grades and her keen understanding of law. During this time she was also Queen of Carnival and Queen of Twelfth Night in 1953, and she was the oldest living queen of each at the time of her death and the longest living Queen of Carnival in the history of the Rex Organization.

After being admitted to the Louisiana Bar association in 1956, Adelaide became an attorney at Wisdom, Stone, Pigman and Benjamin, where she met her husband Edward B. Benjamin Jr., thus beginning a lifelong bond with him throughout their 55 year marriage until his death in 2012.

Enthusiastic about music and education, Adelaide was up for a challenge holding many noteworthy positions in the community, including 17 pivotal years on the New Orleans Symphony board bringing it to solvency from the brink of bankruptcy, 35 years on the board of Louise S. McGehee School, nine years on the Loyola University Board, where she led a $50 million capital campaign and received an honorary degree in 2008, as a founding member of the National World War II Museum board. She served on two influential foundation boards: The RosaMary Foundation and The Mary Freeman Wisdom. In addition to being well known and highly regarded for her advocacy and leadership, she was a dedicated member of Trinity Episcopal Church and received many honors and awards during her lifetime. While Adelaide was philanthropically-minded and cared deeply about New Orleans, her work as mother to her four children was her priority.

Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin is survived by her four children: Edward Wisdom Benjamin, (his wife, the former Helaine Higgins, and their children Mary Elizabeth Benjamin, Edward Wisdom Benjamin, Jr., Glen Higgins Benjamin, and Joan Caroline Benjamin and great-grandchild Adelaide Wisdom Benjamin); Mary Dabney Benjamin (her husband James Scott Williamson and their children Haley Benjamin Williamson and Amy Benjamin Williamson); Ann Leith Benjamin Hill (her husband John Peter Hill and their children Gareth Griffin Hill and Oliver Benjamin Hill); and Stuart Minor Benjamin (his wife Arti Kaur Rai and their children Sophia Rai Benjamin and Anna Rai Benjamin), and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Service at TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1329 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, La. 70130 on Saturday, June 6th at 1:00PM. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM. Interment at Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., New Orleans, LA. 70130, Louise S. McGehee School, 2343 Prytania St., New Orleans, LA 70130, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, 4176 Canal St. Ste 100, New Orleans, LA. 70119, Loyola University, 6363 St Charles Avenue, NOLA, 70118, or Metairie Park Country Day School 300 Park Road, Metairie, LA 70005.