Dot was born to a family of seven girls and her parents passed away when she was very young. Dot and three of the younger sisters went to a children’s home in Tiffin, Ohio while the three older sisters stayed with other family members. Her father was a member of the Jr. Order of United American Mechanics and they sponsored a wonderful place for children. She had special memories and extra “family” called home kids. She moved back to Charlotte after graduating high school where she met her husband John “J.Z.” while working at the Lance factory. They married in March of 1943 and had three children. She was a devoted mother, wife, friend and was a big part of her family’s lives. She was at every event for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a loyal church member and was involved regularly in their activities. She and J.Z. traveled after retirement to every state in the US and took cruises to South Pacific, Canada and the Caribbean. She had a great artistic ability to paint pictures and do all sorts of crafts. She will be greatly missed by everyone.
Dot was proceeded in by death by husband John Z Benton Jr; five sisters. She is survived by her sister Betty Jo Holbrook; children John, Gary and Sandra; daughter-in-law Jane Benton and son-in-law Steve Purnell; grandchildren Lara, Makenzie, Natalie, Cyril, Brian and Shannon; great grandchildren Emma, Ryan, Julia, Olivia, Jack and Aaron.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, December 14, 2019 beginning at 11:30am at Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 9401 South Tryon Street, Charlotte. Funeral Service will follow at 1pm. Interment will be at Philadelphia Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Mint Hill, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church at www.cscpc.org.
Arrangements are under the care of McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park.
Eulogy
Good afternoon and I want to thank everyone for honoring mom with your presence today. Mom had a BIG HEART and its in that spirit that she would want this about you, and not about her.
It would be safe to say that everyone that she came in contact with would know that she was more concerned about your comfort, well being, or that the conversation would be about you and not her. Yes, she would very proud of her family but that includes many of you.
Her parents died at a very young age she was placed in a home that some would consider an orphanage, but she did not considered herself an orphan, instead, she felt that she and the other children were HOME KIDS and raised by a loving father figure DAD KERNAN.
That was the core of her early life, raised is an environment of love and discipline, BELIEF IN GOD, and her values and big heart was formed. She looked after her younger sister aunt Jo and made sure she was OK. THIS is where it all started. Her love for the home kids is evident as she, dad, and other family members would would gather each year in Ohio and Lexington to celebrate their love. THIS WAS CALLED HOME KID LOVE, AND EXIST TODAY. Even now, the home kids meet, either in person or their children and their grandchildren meet Every Christmas, exchanging small gifts, showing their home kid love. Thank you for being her brothers and sisters.
THANK YOU DAD KERNAN FROM TIFTON HOME, THANK YOU DAD BRUTON FROM THE LEXINGTON HOME.
You did well in raising this child. You did well teaching her values and sharing the word of god with her. Even today she has the Bible that you gave her. For all that you have done for her, and all the other home kids, we all give our thanks. WELL DONE FAITHFUL SERVANT!!! I KNOW THAT IF SHE WAS HERE TODAY SHE WOULD WANT TO SAY ‘THANK YOU’ Even in her final hours We heard her say DAD KERNAN’S NAME
We grew up in Mint Hill in a house that dad built. He worked very hard providing for his family. Mom made sure that we had what we needed, cooking and making homemade pies, jellies, canning vegetables from the garden. She made sure that we were in church and Sunday school every week. They both were active in scouting as we grew up they were den leaders and scout masters. She supported dad as he and some friends founded the Mint Hill volunteer fire dept. She supported dad as he went thru the ranks from being a mason to past master of the Matthews lodge. She supported her church and was active in circle groups, mission Trips, anything to help others. We were not rich in any means when it came to having money, but our wealth can not be compared in the love that she gave us and to others. It was all about that love, not about herself, as she sacrificed things that she may have needed or wanted so we could have the life that we had growing up.
She was all about her family too. Our vacations and weekend getaways was with her sisters in Savannah Georgia. Even though they were separated in younger years they grew stronger in the years followed. Those visits to spend time together, growing up with my cousins, playing, going to the beach, or getting into trouble together was priceless. We did not need the fancy trips or resorts. It’s the family values that mattered the most and for that I am so grateful. For all of you that drove up from Savannah, thank you, I just proves how strong family values are. To my cousin brother Jack, It’s a miracle that we are alive today as much hooligans that we pulled. We may have been cousins, but we grew up as brothers and here today I want to say to all of you, I am Sorry for your loss.
To her CHURCH FAMILY here I am sure that mom would want to say THANK YOU.
Thank you to her Sunday school class for your time that was spent with mom. She always respected you and if she was every late she did not want to go in disturb the Bible study and lessons.
To her circle class, she never wanted to miss a meeting. You have been so loving and supportive. In health and sickness, you were always there for her. She really enjoyed her time spent with you.
To Rev. Mark Lee you may have come into her life in her final weeks but you got to know her well. I believe that your were sent not only for our churches benefit as a renewed energy and leader, you were sent by God to help mom as she was transitioning from this life to the next. She took comfort in your words and prayers. As you prayed with us and mom she felt at peace and you helped her get ready as she passed peacefully in her sleep from this life to life eternal. I will always be thankful for that, You gave her comfort and she knew that GOD WAS CALLING HER HOME AND SHE WAS AT PEACE WITH THAT.
FROM BEING A CHILD TO NOW, SANDRA, GARY, AND I Are so grateful and blessed to have her in our life. She will be missed but we know in our hearts where she is now, and that someday we will see her again. She shared her beliefs in God and raised us the best that she could. She instilled her values in us. She led us down a path offering her guidance, love, and support, yet she let each of us to choose our on direction. We are so blessed to have had her and dad and their love and values. Today we want to honor her by giving thanks to all of her friends here, and give thanks to GOD, for in my eyes, she is the closest thing to an angel that I could ever envision.
Thank you, and each and everyone of you, thank you!!!
John
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