Hazel Benton

Hazel entered the Church Triumphant this morning after a long life serving Christ our Lord. She was born to James W and Mary Ella Davis Flythe in Sylvania Georgia. She grew in Screven County along side her mother, father and sisters Gladysteen, Jimmie Ella and brothers Beau and Grady. One brother, Maurice had died at birth.

Hazel lived in a happy home as a child. Hazel graduated from Screven County High School with Honors and attended McBride Methodist Church there. When her mother passed away when Hazel was 16, she moved with her father and brother Grady to Savannah to be near family and where her father opened a grocery store. She attended Draughn's Business College where she met her future husband Andrew "Andy" W. Benton. When they graduated, they married in January, 1948. She began attending her husband's family Church, Lutheran Church of the Ascension and became a member in May 1950, welcomed into the congregation by Rev Dr Raymond Wood. She became an active member of Ascension. Ascension and its members were beloved to her.

Throughout the years She was a member of the Helen Shirk Circle, Directoress of the Altar Guild, served on nomination and call committees, taught Sunday School and Vacation Church School. In 1973 she and several other members of Ascension and with guidance from Pastor James Crumley formed a Social Outreach Committee. This was a community outreach ministry that partnered with DFACS and Emmaus House that helped families in need with purchase of school clothes and shoes and providing food security and other vital needs. This pioneering committee model of helping others has been carried forward in community outreach at Ascension to this day. She dearly loved to cook church meals for many years alongside her friends, Joan Johnson, Peggy Outz and Kitty Stelljes. Their chicken and dumpling were well received many times! Hazel was named Ascension's Bold Woman of Faith by Ascensions WELCA (Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) Hazel happily worked alongside her husband Andy in his law practice in The American Building at Drayton and Bay Streets for many years. She loved to get deli sandwiches at Arnolds on the next corner for their lunch during those years.

She loved God and family above all; She delighted in her children, grandchildren and "Great Grands"; She and Andy loved spending as much time as possible at their Tybee cottage-even in the cold of winter!

She is survived by her son Newell and his wife Glenda, her son Wayne and his wife Andrea, her grandchildren Susan, Laura, Mary and her husband Jon, Andrew and his wife Summer, Her great grandchildren Harmon, Garrett, Jackson, Hannah, William, Charlotte, Joseph, Ella, Banks, Smith and Lottie.

Visitation will be 1-2:30 PM Sunday March 22, 2026, Fox and Weeks, Hodgson Chapel. Service Graveside, Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Monday, March 23, 2026, at 2:30 PM, Pastor Jason Talness, Officiant.

In Lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Lutheran Church of the Ascension Christian Education Fund, 120 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401.