Evelyn Bennett Obituary

Evelyn Martin Bennett WALTERBORO - Evelyn Martin Bennett, age 102, departed this life Wednesday, August 22. Affectionately known as "Zsa Zsa", she lived a grace-filled life as a devoted wife, mother, community leader, and servant of her Lord, Jesus Christ. She was a beautiful and elegant Southern lady whose passion was taking care of others. An excellent cook and hostess, Evelyn loved a good time and enjoyed traveling, reading, music, art, and spending time with her family and friends. After graduating from Winthrop College, she taught 5th grade in Ruffin, SC. There she met and married her husband, Dr. Marshall Bennett, in 1939. Together they operated a rural medical clinic before moving to Walterboro, SC in 1949. Evelyn devoted herself to caring for her husband, raising her children, and serving the community. She was a member of the Walterboro Planning Commission, the Women's Club, the SC Federation of Women's Clubs, the SC Medical Auxiliary, the Colleton County unit of the American Cancer Society, the Walterboro Cotillion, the Dogwood Hills Country Club, the Fine Arts Club, the Walterboro Book Club, and the Colonel Joseph Glover Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, holding offices in all of these organizations. An avid gardener, she completed the Clemson University Master Gardener course in 2010 at the age of 94. Evelyn was very active in her church, St. Jude's Episcopal. She served on numerous committees, often led Bible studies, was elected to the Vestry and became the first female Senior Warden of the parish. Born February 28, 1916, in Spartanburg, SC, she grew up in Asheville, NC. She was preceded in death by her parents, John Laurens and Tallulah Bishop Martin; her brother, John Laurens Martin, Jr.; her daughters, Elizabeth (Betsy) Bennett Moody and Jeanne Bennett Neumann; and her grandchildren, Jeffrey Hilliard Burgess and Elizabeth Bennett Lever. Surviving family members include her daughter, Ellen Bennett Lumpkin (Michael); grandchildren, Kim Moody Rencken (Gunter), Marshall Scott Moody (Lynn), Jeanne Bennett Lumpkin, and Hope Lumpkin Bergquist (David); great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Lee Chewning, Lauren Gales Chewning, Janice Elizabeth Moody and Marshall Scott Moody, Jr.; stepsons, Dr. John Neyle Bennett (Earle) and William Marshall Bennett, Jr. (Eleanor) and their families. Visitation will be Sunday, August 26, from 6:00 to 8:00pm at Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home, 117 Paul Street, Walterboro, SC. Her funeral will be at 11:00am Monday, August 27, at St. Jude's Church, with interment immediately following the service at Live Oak Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Jude's Church Memorials Fund, 907 Wichman St., Walterboro, SC 29488 or to Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C), www.standuptocancer.org, P.O. Box 843721, Los Angeles, CA 90084-3721. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralhome.com. The family is most grateful for the care and support provided by the staff of The Presbyterian Village of Summerville and Hospice of Charleston. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston