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Submitted: 5/18/24 • Approved: 6/5/24 • Last Updated: 6/8/24 • R1532396-G1532395-S3
Jeff
Dec 4, 1902 - Oct 6, 1959
Ratha Ella
July 25, 1915 - July 6, 2010
*Obituary
Ratha E. Smithers Beneux, 94, of Benton, passed away at her home Tuesday, July 6th. Born July 25, 1915. She was a member of the United Missionary Baptist Church of Benton. Mrs. Beneux loved her church, her family and was a loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and a 5th generation Great-Great-Grandmother.
Left to cherish her memory is her surviving daughter, Willie Jeff (W.J.) Ison (Bill) of Benton; daughter-in-law, Maria Smithers Farrar (Bob) of San Antonio, Texas; brother, Gene Louallen (Vera) of Plano, Texas; sisters, Glenna McAllister and Adell Mead of Benton, Zelda Burrow (Clennon) of Plano, Texas and Josie Boyd (Larry) of Jonesboro; grandchildren, Kevin Malone (Rhonda) of Benton, Kim Reynolds (Keith) of Benton, Yvonne DeLynn Smithers Detherage (Gary) of Russellville and Jeff Smithers (Lori) of San Antonio, Texas; great-grandchildren, Jory Malone (Abby) of Benton, BJ Malone (Tiffany) of Bryant, Jake and Luke Smithers of San Antonio, Texas and Chrissy and Haley Reynolds of Benton and great-great-grandchildren, Hannah Malone of Benton and Jamie Lynn Brooks of Russellville.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Melissa Cox Louallen, at nine months of age; raised by her loving father and step-mother, Jada Louallen and Myrtle Rickard Louallen of Paron; two husbands, John Jefferson (Jeff) Smithers of Benton and Fred L. Beneux of Fort Smith; son, JD Smithers of Russellville; grandson, Douglas Smithers of Benton; great-grandson, JJ Brooks of Russellville; brother, Ondis Louallen of Bryant; sisters, Anna Lois Curtis, Imogene Mullenax, Stella English and Eva Williams all of Benton and many other countless family and friends.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 9 at Ashby Funeral Home. Food will be served at United Missionary Baptist Church of Benton from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday.
Services will be held Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Ashby Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fowler Cemetery in Paron.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in her name, to United Missionary Baptist Church @ 3810 Salem Road in Benton, AR 72015.
*When John Jefferson Smithers was born on December 4, 1902, in Saline, Arkansas, his father, John, was 35 and his mother, Amanda, was 27. He married Ratha Ella Louallen on December 12, 1931, in his hometown. They had two children during their marriage. He died on October 6, 1959, in his hometown at the age of 56.
*When Ratha Ella Louallen was born on July 25, 1915, in Saline, Arkansas, her father, John, was 23, and her mother, Melissa, was 24. She married John Jefferson Smithers and they had two children together. She then married Fredrick Leon Beneux and they had one son together. She died on July 6, 2010, in Conway, Arkansas, at the age of 94, and was buried in Paro, Bhutan.
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Photo courtesy of Annette Shaw
Contributed on 5/18/24 by hawkinsdonna48
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Record #: 1532396