Laura Baxter Bennett

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Savannah, GA Laura Baxter Bennett passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017. She was born on November 20, 1934 in Malone, Florida. She graduated from Malone High School in 1952, where she excelled in her studies and was a state champion in cheerleading and baton twirling. She was predeceased by her father, Leslie A. Baxter, but better known to his friends and family as "Goat", and her mother, Evelyn K. Baxter. Laura was a 1956 graduate of Saint Joseph's School of Nursing, and immediately after graduating, she married her husband of 61 years, Julius H. Bennett. They were blessed with three children: Julius Bennett, Jr., Joan B. Cowart, and Lawrence A. Bennett, all of Savannah, GA. Laura's nursing career was exciting and varied. She worked at all three local hospitals and at the Red Cross over the course of her professional career. While she was working at Memorial Hospital, she assisted in the very first open heart surgery performed in Savannah. More importantly, throughout her career she motivated, cared for, and loved her patients just as if they were her own family. After her nursing career, she helped her husband operate several businesses, first by opening several Western Sizzlin' Steakhouses in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, until they returned to Savannah when they took over Palmer's Seafood House. Laura is survived by her devoted husband, Julius H. Bennett, her two wonderful sisters, Virginia Donaldson and Nancy B. Macklin; her three loving children, Julius Jr. (Charity), Joan Cowart (Quintin), and Lawrence (Kim); her cherished brothers and sisters-in-law, Jean B. and Lindy Lewis, Lois B. and Bobby Riner, and Stephen S. Bennett, her five handsome grandsons, Julius H. Bennett, III, Timothy J. Bennett (Claire), Lance A. Bennett, Chandler Bennett, and Joseph Reid Bennett; her beautiful granddaughter, Emma Cowart, and several nieces and nephews. Burial was held in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Donations may be made to the American Red Cross.