Georgie Benson

Georgie Debrule Benson died Friday, October 31, 2008. She lived in Forest City, NC. She was 97 and had been in declining health for several months.

She was born to John Dixon DeBrule and Amelia 'Mealie' McKinney DeBrule in Henrietta, NC on January 1, 1911. Her husband, Robert Grady Benson, her parents and six siblilngs preceded Georgie in death: Edward, Blanch, Yates, and John DeBrule, Ethel DeBrule Bradford and Irene DeBrule Wyatt.

Her son, Robert D. Benson of Chapel Hill, survives her. She is also survived by five grandchildren: Carolyn Benson Graves and Alan Thomas Benson of Greensboro, Laura Benson Mims of Jamestown, NC, Patricia Benson Glance of Raleigh and Robert D. Benson, Jr. of Roanoke, VA. She is also survived by 13 great grandchildren.

Georgie Benson was a graduate of Tri High School in Caroleen, NC and Cecil's Business College in Spartanburg. She worked in Burlington Industries offices until her retirement in 1969. She had other careers after that. She attended several community colleges to prepare for her job as Dietician at Royster Memorial Hospital in Boiling Springs. Then she became Supervisor of the Dietary Department at Rutherford Hospital. Her next position was office manager of the Polk County Sheltered Workshop. When that organization lost federal funding and closed, she became business manager of the Rutherford Mental Health Center. She retired again in 1980.

She was a charter member of Temple Baptist Church in Henrietta which she served as pianist and organist for 50 years. She was a long-time member of Lucille Wall Music Club and of the Tri-Community Women's Club which she served as President.