Mrs. Nellie L. Bentley died Oct. 14. The daughter of the late Curtis and Johnnie Lee Johnson, she was born in Morgan County in 1933. Affectionately called Big Mama, Mrs. Bentley accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and joined Bethlehem Baptist Church. She served faithfully for over 25 years on the Usher Board and loved attending church services.

She worked full time at Bestovol Foods in Monroe for over 35 years and enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, shopping and taking care of house plants. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years James Lewis Bentley.

Surviving are children Teresa Bentley, Doretha (Mose) Moncrief, Gloria Bentley Maddox, Mary Ann Bentley, Lester (Rose) Bentley, Remona (Chris) Banks, Brenda (Charles) Clark, Ruth Bentley, Johnny (Valerie) Bentley, Phoebe C. Powlette, Charlie (Ruby) Epps; grandchildren Ansley Bentley, Monica Maddox, Chanta Bentley, Lesley (Thomas) Glanton, Cedric Morgan, Contice Bentley, Kelly Morgan, Brittany Clark, Brandon (Tasheena) Epps; great-grandchildren James Powlette, Faith Powlette, Takcarey Barkaly, Sinya Goolsby, Jada Epps, Julian Epps; sister Maggie Smith; brother Curtis (Gussie) Johnson; sisters-in-law Walter (Josephine) Brown, Robbie Bradford, Francis Bentley, Johnnie Lee Bentley; spiritual son Melvin Clark; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. H.K. Benton Jr. officiating. Interment followed at New Covington Cemetery.