Jacqueline Anita (Heath) Benton was born March 2, 1947 to the late Mr. Marion David Heath and Mrs. Rebecca (Clark) Heath in Scottland, Georgia.
She attended Baldwin County Schools at an early age and graduated from JF Boddie High School. She was the youngest to attend Fort Valley State College at the age of 16 in 1963. During her years at Fort Valley, she received a BA degree in Mathematics, was Miss Peach Blossom, Miss Fort Valley Attendant, joined the swim team and was a member of the AKA sorority incorporated; The National Honor Society and the Pan-Hellenic Council. After graduation, she was employed with The Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
She married Hezekiah Benton, Jr. on Aug. 12, 1967 and then moved to Ft. Belvoir, Virginia where he was stationed. While at Ft. Belvoir, she was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a Mathematician on Developing Weapon Firing Theory (Vortex method). She started GS-7 and was promoted to GS- 9 in 15 months. She later moved with her husband to South Bend, Indiana and worked at South Bend Washington High School as a Math Teacher. In South Bend, both of their children were born; Jocelyn Alvina Benton and Anthony Dexter Benton. For seven years in South Bend, her husband was employed with the Soil Conservation Service.
Having moved to Atlanta, she was employed with BellSouth Telecommunications. She was an excellent seamstress, she owned and operated a fabric store, Fine Linen and Purple, Inc. She also worked with the Kroger Corporation until her health declined. She endured these health complications for nine years, and she claimed the Victory on Feb. 16, 2019.
Jacqueline was preceded in death by her parents, Marion David Heath and Rebecca Clarke Heath; her brother, Clarence Melvin Heath and daughter, Rebecca Rose Benton.
She leaves to cherish her memories her former husband of twenty-seven years, Reverend Hezekiah Benton, Jr.; two children, Jocelyn Benton Glenn and Anthony Dexter Benton; three grandchildren, Jazmine Ashanti Glenn, Kevon Edward Glenn and Irian Marie Ferrand; godson, RoyChester Heard; one brother, Charles Marion (Myra) Heath; sister-in-law, Mrs. Doris Heath and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A funeral service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 2177 Usher St. SW, Covington, with the Rev. Ronnie M. Thoams Jr. and Dr. Clarence Kelby Heath officiating. Interment followed at Lawnwood Memorial Park.
