Madeline Gertrude Lester Bennett, 96, of Clayton Road, Summers County, WV peacefully passed away Monday, September 25, 2017, in Beckley, WV.
She was born February 28, 1921, in Pemberton, WV, to William Columbus Hendrick and Zina Bowman.
Madeline was a woman who lived life simply but diligently. She was a hard worker and contributed to the Second World War effort by boxing grenades and incendiary bombs. Madeline worked for many years in the Fairfax County Public School system when she lived in Virginia. She loved her country life and her family even more. She dedicated her life to raising her children and being “Nang Nang” to her grandchildren.
Madeline was at her happiest when her family was visiting, whether it was for holidays or a family reunion, with grandchildren stacked up to sleep on the floor. She will be forever known by all for her biscuits and gravy, macaroni and cheese, butterscotch pie, and banana pudding.
In her later years, she loved going to local jams to dance with the many friends she made over the years. Her entire family knew that if you wanted to spend time with her on a jam night, you better be ready to tag along with your dancing shoes.
Madeline was preceded in death by her brothers, Carl Hendrick, Cecil Hendrick, Ward Hendrick, and George Hendrick; her husbands, William Cooper, Rodney Lester, and Donald Bennett; precious daughter, Pamela Weese; three beloved sons, Michael Cooper (Pam Smith), Dennis Cooper (Linda Cooper), and Rodney Lester; and cherished granddaughter, Erin Cooper.
She is survived by two sisters, Mary Cook and Oramae Mullins; as well as her daughter, Janet Clifton; niece, Donna Faye Lester; along with 12 grandchildren, Debbie Castillo, Darrell Clifton, Rita Clifton, Rodney Clifton, Jim Cooper, Denise Robinson, Josh Weese, Tedrina Spinks, Amber Stoneberger (Brian Stoneberger), Jeremy Lester (Kristen Lester), Betsy Bennett, and Melanie Frazier (Bobby Frazier); 33 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren (10th due in April 2018).
Pallbearers are Jeremy Lester, Jim Cooper, Josh Weese, and Brian Stoneberger.
Visitation will begin at 1 PM on Monday, October 2, 2017, at Pence Springs Community Church in Pence Springs, WV, followed by a funeral service at 2 PM at the same location. Burial will follow in the Haven of Rest Cemetery in Pence Springs, under the direction of the Lantz Funeral Home in Alderson, WV. There will be a reception at the church after the burial.
Online condolences may be made at Lantzfuneralhome.com.
Lantz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary originally published in the September 29, 2017 edition of The West Virginia Daily News.
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