Dorothy Marie Benn-Armistead

On Thursday June 06, 2019, at approximately 7:45 p.m., the circle of siblings called the “ The Magnificent 7” was once again made whole when the last of them on this side of the Jordan crossed over and joined the Benn clan already there! On that day of remembrance of the D-Day invasion, Dorothy Marie Benn Armistead transitioned from this life to that of eternity with her husband, Leon, sisters Wanetah, Bernice and Mildred ; brothers, Herman, Wesley, Winifred and Mack, Jr. and her parents Mamie Scott Benn and Mack C. Benn, Sr. Dorothy, ‘Aunt Dot ’,was born August 19,1920 in Southampton County, Virginia . She attended and was in the first graduating class of East Suffolk High School in 1940. She then went on to earn her B.A. degree from Elizabeth City State Teachers College in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She soon after began a career in teaching in Franklin, Virginia where she met, fell in love with and married in 1947 Leon Armistead formerly of Hampton, Va. Aunt Dot began teaching elementary school students under the Southampton County Public School system in 1945 and the Franklin City Public School system in 1965. During her 35+ year career she taught and loved her students and always encouraged them to always do and be the best they could be. She retired from teaching in 1980. She and Uncle Leon shortly there after moved from Franklin back to her hometown of Suffolk where they lived out the remainder of their lives. Although they were never had children of their own, they were always open to share their home and love with any family member who darned their door. They were especially fond of and open to Uncle Leon’s niece, Linda. She was always welcome to their home and was loved as their own. After the passing of her beloved Leon, Aunt Dot moved in with her sister Bernice and her son, Pete, where she remained until her passing. Dorothy was a member of St. Mark Episcopal Church in Suffolk from about 1980 until her passing. She was an active member of the ECW (Episcopal Church Women) until her health began to fail. She was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a Heritage Member of the East Suffolk High School Alumni Association. Dorothy is survived by 2 sisters in law, Marian Benn (Herman) of Suffolk, and M. Elaine Benn (Mack, Jr) of Sun City, Arizona. A brother in law, Luther C. Holland, Jr. of Martinsburg, West Virginia. Nephews Edward U. “Pete” Smith of the home, Wesley W. Benn, Jr. of Suffolk; Mack Benn, III(Denise) of Scottsdale, Arizona; Bruce T. Benn (Tonyce) of Fairbourn, Ga.; Clinton Parks of Chesapeake, Va.;Quinn Shelton of Houston , Texas; Leon Shelton of Houston, Texas; Alan Shelton of Columbus, Maryland and Kenneth S. Holland of Grand Rapids, Florida. Nieces Linda Holland of Guadalajara, Mexico; Princess J. Benn-Coker of Suffolk; Rev. Jacquelyn Benn Hollingsworth of Fairfax, Va.; Wennetha Benn Burton (Larry) of Detroit, Michigan; Norma J. Ragland of Va. Beach and Shirley Thomas of Orlando, Florida. 10 great nieces and nephews, especially Pete’s daughter Michele R. Daniels, as well as numerous great great nieces and nephews and her many, many friends, former students and other relatives. She will be greatly missed and forever loved by her longtime caregiver, Gloria Johnson and recent caregiver Shadette Chesson. A wake and the AKA services will be held in the chapel of Crocker Funeral home from 6 to 7 pm on Monday June 17th.A celebration of life will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at St. James Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. She will be laid to rest in Carver Memorial Cemetery. Professional services with dignity have been entrusted to Crocker Funeral Home, Inc. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dorothy Marie Benn-Armistead, please visit our flower store.