Mary L. (Whitlock) Bennett

Mrs. Mary Whitlock Bennett, 91, of Waycross, passed away Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at her residence in Waycross.

A native of Aiken County, SC, Mary was born April 3, 1934, to the late Daniel Henry & Annie Lou Fulmer Whitlock.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Blackshear, GA, and a member of the Followers Sunday School Class where she served as a substitute teacher and class president.  She was a member of the Women’s Missionary Prayer Group and was deeply blessed by assisting as a counselor for Judgement House production presented each year at First Baptist.

She was actively involved in the family business, Bennett Oil Company, where she served as bookkeeper from 1971 until she retired in 1997.  She had worked in banking for a number of years both in Aiken, SC and later while residing in Waycross.  She graduated in 1951 from Monetta High School where she was salutatorian of her class.

She was an active member of the Waycross Junior Woman’s Club.  She was honored by the Club in 1977 as their Woman of the Year nominee and her family was recognized in 1974 as Family of the Year.  After moving to Pierce County in 1984, she became a member of the Blackshear Woman’s Club.

Gardening was something she loved, and she was a member of the Green Thumb Garden Club where she served two terms as Club President and held several other offices.

Her greatest joy in life has been that of wife, mother, and grandmother as she has sought God’s will for herself and her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-nine years, Harold C. Bennett; three brothers, Daniel Thomas Goldman, James Henry Whitlock, and Emery Whitlock (Alice); and two sisters, Lila Whitlock Hendrix (McCoy) and Trannie W. Sorrow (William).  She was also preceded in death by her sisters-in-law, Dealva Bennett Roberts (Leon, Jr.), Adeline Bennett Meeker (Everett, Jr.), Melda Bennett Van Iderstyne (Dick), and Mamie Bennett Severin (Reed); and by her brothers-in-law, James Newell Bennett (Oletha), Hugh Dorsey Bennett (Georgie), James Lawton “J.L.” Bennett (Ruth).

Survivors are her four children, Keith L. Bennett (Jaime) of Mershon, Craig Bennett (Mary Beth) of Mershon, Sonya B. Clark of Waycross, and Wendy B. Puryear (Doug) of Mershon; 8 grandchildren, Cole Bennett, Cody Bennett, Spencer Clark (Kristine), Megan Bennett (Andrew), Mary Courtney Puryear, Mamie Grooms (McKinley), Bennett Puryear, and Matthew Shell (Danielle); 2 great grandchildren, Hazely Shell and Maelyn Shell; and several nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

Funeral services for Mrs. Bennett will be held Saturday afternoon, August 9, 2025, at 4:00 o’clock from Blackshear First Baptist Church with Dr. Bill Young and Rev. Chris Roberts officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.

A private interment will be in the Ramah Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, GA  31501.

“What a blessed privilege to have been Mrs. Harold C. Bennett and the mother of Keith, Craig, Sonya, and Wendy.  And who could ever have more precious grandchildren:  Cole, Cody, Spencer, Megan, Mary Courtney, Mamie Madison, Bennett, and Matthew.  God has so richly blessed me with a wonderful life.”  - Mary Bennett

Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online register at www.pearsondial.com.

Pearson-Dial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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