Lorene Ferguson Bennett

Services for Lorene Ferguson Bennett of Thomasville will be Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 10:00AM at First Baptist Church Chapel. The Rev. Dr. Milton Gardner will officiate and interment will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Corky Sampson, Rusty Sampson, Wesley Sampson, Terry Ferguson, Scott Ferguson and Ryan Jones. Mrs. Bennett died September 10, 2016 at her residence. Born August 13, 1916 in Meigs, GA she was the daughter of the late Leroy and Susie Ferguson. She proudly celebrated her 100th birthday this year. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Ivy Bennett and was the mother of three daughters, Cheryl Bennett Dodson and husband, Retired Col. Roy L. Dodson of Leesville, LA, Dale Bennett Bailey and husband, Richard Bailey of Deltona, FL, and Lynn Bennett Brooks and husband, Johnny Brooks of Thomasville, GA. She graduated from Meigs High School and the Atlanta School of Cosmetology. She was a registered master beautician. She continued her education attending summer beauty courses in Athens at the University of Georgia Extension Center well into her 80’s. She loved her profession and always said, “your beautiful hair is your crown and glory from God!” She owned and operated beauty shops in Meigs, GA; in downtown Thomasville at 134 North Broad Street and at Finney General Hospital during World War II. She accompanied her husband during his U.S. Navy career when possible until his retirement and then moved back to Thomasville. She loved her Lord and was a steadfast member of the First Baptist Church where she taught Training Union for many years and attended the Joy Sunday School Class and WMU. She also loved reading and telling jokes to one and all! Other survivors include grandchildren, Ray Brooks and Lauren Brooks Strickland ( Kylie ), great grandchildren, Marla Ray Strickland and Libby Blake Strickland all of Thomasville, brother, Hollis Ferguson of Fayettville, GA, nephews, Ansel Parrish, Robert and Jon Bennett, Gene Ferguson, Corky, Rusty and Wesley Sampson, Terry, Lee and Scott Ferguson, nieces, Jinanne Bennett Parrish, Mary Ferguson West, Elaine Varn Jones, Cindy Ferguson Stansbury, Alice Parrish and friend and faithful caregiver, Paula Conti. She was preceded in death by sisters, Louise Ferguson House, Laverne Ferguson Varn, Lilajean Ferguson Sampson, brother, Leroy Ferguson, nephews, Tony Sampson, Charles Parrish, Neil Parrish, Clifton Parrish, nieces, Dorothy Parrish and Millicent Bennett Thigpen. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 2790, Thomasville, GA 31799 and Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 114 Mimosa Drive, Thomasville, GA 31792. The family will receive friends from 5-7PM on Monday at Allen & Allen Funeral Home. Visitors may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com .