Maria Leal Obituary

Maria Benavides Leal WALTERBORO - Mrs. Maria Benavides Leal, widow of Felix Perez Leal, died Tuesday morning, at her residence. She was 87. Mrs. Leal was born August 1, 1922, in San Patricio, TX, a daughter of the late Luis Benavides and Francisca Villareal Benavides. She was an active member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, a charter member of St. Anthony's Women's Club, and was selected in 2009 as the S.C. Catholic Woman of the Year. She was the Eucharistic Minister at the church until 2007, and was a member of both Helping Hands and the Walterboro RSVP Club. Maria was truly dedicated to her Lord, her family, her friends and her community. She cared for her late husband for over 16 years after a stroke left him disabled in 1980. She regularly attended daily Mass, she helped with Bible School at her church, and she was known for visiting the sick and the shut-ins, usually assisting with communion. Maria also made rosaries as gifts for her friends and family here, and as far away as the U.S. Virgin Islands. She was an excellent cook, a selfless volunteer, and a true woman of God. She will truly be missed. She is survived by a son, Macario Benavides and wife Juanita, of Port Lavaca, TX. There are six daughters: Marcella Baker of Walterboro, Manuela Mills and husband Rudolph, of Islandton, Sally Plover and husband Robert, of Carpenter, WY, Pressie Carter and husband McCollin, Irene Craven and husband Raymond, and Marianne Holmes and husband Don, all of Walterboro. Mrs. Leal is survived by the husband of her late daughter, Dr. William E. Fender of Mt. Pleasant. She has one brother, Arcadio Benavides of Port Lavaca, TX, and one sister, Juanita Crowder of Victorville, CA. There are 21 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren and 11 great, great grandchildren. Mrs. Leal was preceded in death by two sons, Anselmo Leal and Santiago Leal, two daughters, Mary Jane Leal and Gloria Maria Fender, and one grandson, Henry R. Mills, III. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday morning at 11:00, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, with committal services following at Live Oak Cemetery. A Rosary Service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 at the Church, with the family receiving friends immediately following in the Sanctuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to either St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 925 S. Jeffries Blvd. Walterboro, SC 29488, or to the Live Oak Cemetery Fund, P.O.B. 1351, Walterboro, SC 29488. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.parkerrhodenfuneralhome.com. PARKER-RHODEN FUNERAL HOME, 117 PAUL STREET, WALTERBORO, is in charge of arrangements. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths