Gloria Clark Benson

NEWVILLE. . .Gloria Clark Benson, a resident of Newville, died Thursday night, June 1, 2023, at her home. She was 76.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, June 4, 2023, in the Oakey Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Don Adams and Pastor Nathan Verghese officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Sunday in the church sanctuary.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to SouthernCare Hospice, 2576 Montgomery Highway, Suite 2, Dothan, AL 36303 or to Oakey Grove Baptist Church, c/o Winnie Murray, 1043 Columbia Road, Abbeville, AL 36310.

Gloria Benson was born and reared in Henry County, daughter of the late William Preston Clark and Vernelle Messer Clark. She attended Abbeville High School and was a graduate of Riley Business College where she received an Associates Degree in Business. Gloria retired from Living Centers of America in Houston as Care Director. In earlier years, she was employed by the Churchill Group in Houston. Gloria was a member of the Oakey Grove Baptist Church and was a former member of the Second Baptist Church of Houston. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Carrie Denise Merritt, her husband, Norman Joseph Benson, and a sister, Judy Clark Bynum.

Surviving relatives include a daughter, Leslie Watford Verghese (Mathew), a son, Darrell R. Watford (Leigh), all of Newville; a sister, Sarah Clark Holley (Joey), grandchildren, Shelby Hulen Watford, Audrey Watford Burroughs (Luke), Nathan George Verghese, Nicholas Mathew Verghese and Andrew Thomas Verghese; aunts, Winnie Murray, Abbeville; Lutrelle Ham, Panama City, FL; and Georgia Whiddon, Taylor, AL; numerous other family and loved ones.

Serving as active pallbearers will be Shelby Watford, Nathan Verghese, Nicholas Verghese, Andrew Verghese, Luke Burroughs and Garrett Richardson.

HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261.You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This firm does not own a crematory.