Thomas Leonard Benge Family

The history of the Benge family began in the early 1900s when Thomas Leonard Benge and his wife, Mary Hazeltine Mayo, moved to Sicily Island from Lincoln County, Mississippi.  Thomas was born on May 30, 1855 near Brookhaven, Mississippi.  Mary was born on March 25, 1861 near Brookhaven, Mississippi. (Reference:  Our Island Heritage, Vol. 3, 1978, compiled by Sophie Haley and Mickie Smith)

Thomas Leonard Benge died on March 13, 1936 and Mary Hazeltine Mayo Benge died on November 23, 1935.  Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

The following children were born to the marriage of Thomas and Mary Benge:

Anna E., 1892-?

William Marion, 1893-1949 (m. Emma Frazier, 1894-1984); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

The following children were born to the marriage of William Marion and Emma Frazier Benge:

Leroy, 1912-1975 (m. Elizabeth Harrell, 1909-1995)

Mary Lou, 1913-2000 (m. Wylie Hileri Lanier, 1912-1996); Both are buried in the Denison Cemetery in Idabel, McCurtain, Oklahoma.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of EFulmer at FindAGrave.com)

Evelyn, 1919-? (m. Donald Anthon, 1921-?)

Mildred, 1922-2010 (m. Hughes T. "Brigham" Young, 1919-2002); Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Judi Sweat Barr at FindAGrave.com)

Dorothy, 1925-1986 (m. Homer Victor Claude, 1919-1995; Both are buried in the Old Pine Hill Cemetery in Sicily Island.   (Editor's note:  tombstone photographs are courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Thomas Lee, 1895-1971 (m. Alberta Mae "Bertie" Smith, 1898-1984); Both are buried in the Little Bahala Cemetery in Woolworth, Lincoln, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Charline Ryan at FindAGrave.com)

The following children were born to the marriage of Lee and Bertie Benge:

Troy Lee, 1916-1998 (m. Erin Brantley,1921-1995)

Theda Mae, 1919-1995 (m. Robert David Cupit, 1910-1972); Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Annie Lorelle, 1921 (m. Kupice)

James Jessie, 1923-1966 (m. Edna Loyce Haynes, 1930); Buried in Mission Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Lincoln County, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Charline Ryan at FindAGrave.com)

Winnie Lue, 1925-2008 (m. Aubrey Layne Tiffee, 1927-2007)

Wilmer Hugh "Buddy", 1925-1974 (m. Mary Elizabeth Knotts, 1925-2006)

Mary Nell, 1927-2007 (m. Charles Gordon Higgins, 1920-1983) Both are buried in the Highland Park Cemetery in Sicily Island.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Karen Klemm Pinckard at FindAGrave.com)

Billy Ray, 1931-2007 (m. Eileen Spovey, 1925-2006)

 Record of birth for Billy Ray:

Billy Ray and Eileen Benge are both entombed in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, Washington.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of NW Mountain Man at FindAGrave.com)

Joseph Donald, 1936

Rose, 1898-1982 (m. James Pearley Newton, 1885-1974); Both are buried in the Greenlawn Memorial Cemetery in Natchez, Adams, Mississippi.  (Editor's note:  tombstone photograph is courtesy of Debbie Belk Ellis at FindAGrave.com)