I was married to Jack Benson for 41 years until he died in July of 2002.  We met at West Georgia College, dated for six months, then got married.  I actually picked him out of the yearbook (he always pretended to hate my telling that!).

I have three children, Jeff, Jenny and Jason.  Jeff, born 1961, lives in Chesapeake, VA with his wife, Gaye.  They have a son, Matt, who is employed at Towne Bank, and a daughter, Mandy.  Jenny, born 1964, is married to Chuck Ittner.  They have two boys, Drew, born 1995, and Brett, born 1998.  Chuck's daughter, Megan, was born in 1985.  They, except for Megan, also attend Parkway.  Jason, born 1969, lives in Chesapeake where he works in his brother's business organization.  Jason was born with spina bifida and has overcome many obstacles to become an independent adult.

I was fortunate to be able to stay home and raise my family.  I have "dabbled" in some part-time work from time to time.  For brief periods of time I was church secretary, substitute teacher, and was involved in various other endeavors.

I attended Georgia State University and West Georgia College.  Jeff was born before I completed my degree, and I was much more interested in being a mother.

I enjoy playing golf, reading, knitting, working crossword puzzles and Sudoku, and painting.

I was born in Carrollton, GA, and grew up in the same small town where I was born.  Jack and I moved to Atlanta in 1964 a couple of months before Jenny was born.

I have one sister, Carol, who is 2 and 1/2 years younger than me.  She and her husband live in Gainesville, GA.

I have always enjoyed traveling and have visited England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Hawaii, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Italy.  Some of my favorite trips in this country have been to Carmel, CA and to the New England states.  I would like to go to Ireland and Greece.  I would also like to visit Wyoming (to play golf), San Diego, and San Francisco.

I'm an Atlanta import.  Jack's job brought us to Atlanta.  I have lived in Georgia all my life, and in Atlanta since 1964.  If I lived somewhere other than Atlanta, it would probably be Virginia where the rest of my kids are, or somewhere further south where it is warm enough for golf year-round.

My Dad worked as an electrical inspector at Lockheed until he retired.  He died in 1987 at age 72.  My Mom retired from The People's Bank in Carrollton.  She was born in 1919 and lives alone, sings in the Praise choir, does volunteer work at the hospital and various other activities.

I accepted Christ at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Carrollton when I was eight and was baptized on Easter Sunday.

It is hard to list memorable days as I consider so many to fall in that category.  There have been some that are sad to remember - the deaths of my grandparents and my Dad, and the most difficult of all, the death of my husband.  The day Jason was born and we were told of his birth defect was also a memorable day.  I prefer to remember the good ones, such as my wedding day, the birth of each of my children and grandchildren.

I have many favorite music artists.  I like almost all music with the exception of hard rock, rap, and some of the country.  I particularly like Neil Diamond; Harry Connick, Jr.; Larry Gatlin and Carrie Underwood.

Neil Diamond

Harry Connick, Jr.

Carrie Underwood

Paul Newman is my all-time favorite actor and I don't really have a favorite actress.

My favorite movies would have to be The Magnificent Seven, Gone With The Wind, and Dr. Zhivago.  My favorite TV shows are Everybody Loves Raymond, 24, and the British sitcoms on PBS.

The Magnificent Seven

Gone With The Wind

Dr. Zhivago

I don't personally have a pet, but since Jenny and her family live with me now I claim the boy's Shelties, Wiggles and Bailey.

I have been in the choir since I was eight years old.

I would like to play the violin.

I am a Second Soprano, but usually sing First Soprano.  You do what you have to do, you know.

My favorite Baptist hymnal (choosing from 1956, 1975 & 1991) is 1956.

My favorite hymns are Great is Thy Faithfulness and Be Strong in the Lord.