Rita Gaye Bennett Cornelius

Rita Gaye Bennett Cornelius passed away Wednesday July 21, 2021 at Blue Ridge Healthcare - Morganton following a period of declining health. Rita was born on March 24, 1959 in West Virginia to the late Floyd Bennett Sr. and Evelyn Taylor Bennett. She loved gardening, home decor, traveling, shopping and was a well known potato connoisseur by her family. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brothers, Alvin Wayne Bennett and Basil Edward Bennett. She is survived by her fiancé, Dennis Kiser; sons, Shane Dickens and husband Scott Fletcher, and Joseph Moore and girlfriend Allison Decker; daughters, Julia Tucker and husband Jamie and Amy Thompson; brother, Floyd Bennett Jr., Calvin Dwayne Bennett; and sister, Freda Dingess. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 4:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Service with Pastor Freddie Lindsey officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery. The family receive friends on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Service.