Lavon (Williamson) Benedict

Lavon Benedict, 89 of Nashville, passed away at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Countryside Manor in Mt. Vernon.

Mom was born in Perry County, IL where her parents farmed.  Although her given name was Doris Lavon, even mom’s parents always called her Lavon. Her father died when she was 8 and after she completed ninth grade, she dropped out of Pinckneyville High School to work at the dress factory to help Grandma with the bills. On December 27, 1957, mom married our dad, David Benedict.  Dave had been injured in the Korean War and returned home to work on his family farm that later became their home and livelihood. 

They worked side by side as a team for 49 years preparing the soil for planting and harvesting.  When dad drove the combine or corn picker, mom hauled grain to town or unloaded it into bins.  While she drove the tractor to bale hay, he loaded and stacked bales.  Together they tended to cattle and hogs.  Mom also raised chickens to sell eggs at local stores in Posey and New Minden.   

Together they raised a family; daughters Marilyn and Marsha helped on the family farm as they grew up and all were saddened by the losses of baby Mark from kidney disease and five-year-old Marjorie who died in the family pond.  After retiring, Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling the US and took many bus tours.  David passed away Nov 14, 2006. 

Lavon was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt.  She welcomed additions to her family with much love -- be it Ron’s children and grandchildren or the extra kiddos in Marsha’s family and more.  Many times, after school, Abigail and Meg walked to their grandma’s house to hang out with her between activities and often brought friends along.  She enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes as well as gardening fruits, vegetables, and flowers.  She relished the first tomato of the season and strawberries especially.  She didn’t mind cooking the rewards of Dave and Matt’s hunting and fishing.  She sewed clothes for her children and their dolls, and enjoyed both quilting and crocheting.   She and dad babysat Matt until he started school and later also loved when Matt, Megan, and Abigail slept over as they often did.  They enjoyed watching their grandkids grow and attending the various activities that the kids were involved in; including sporting events, 4H activities, concerts, plays, and more.   Mom was proud of her great-grandchildren and attended as many birthday parties and other important events in Altamont for as long as she could manage to travel that far.   

Mom had a heart for the lord and for service.  She taught child and adult Sunday School classes at First Baptist Church Nashville in addition to Vacation Bible School classes. She enjoyed spending time with the women of her Sunday School class at church, some of whom she regularly met at Buretta’s for lunch.  Mom delivered meals for Washington County Senior Services after she moved to Nashville from the farm and volunteered with the Nashville Chamber of Commerce booth at the Fall Festival.  She devotedly did her daily Bible reading and was interested in Sunday Evening Bible Studies and services with the First Baptist Church of Nashville.  She prayed daily for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.   Mom and Dad volunteered many hours/days of their lives in service to other veterans through the Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the VA hospital and nursing home in Marion.  

Lavon is survived by daughters, Marilyn (Ron) Braun of Hoyleton and Marsha (Richard) Hall of Oakdale; Grandchildren Matt Braun (Fallon Hendrickson) of Altamont, IL, Megan Hall of Oakdale, and Abigail (Marcus) Bean of San Diego, CA; Bonus Grandchild Chris (Mindy) Braun, Dylan Conekin (child Keefe), Troy  (Connie Rogers) Miller and Kyle (Alexis Martinez) Conekin; Her great –grandchildren Presley, David, and Rowen Braun, and Sophia, Graison, and Knox Hendrickson; Bonus Great-grandchildren Chris (Sara Myers) Braun(child Ember), Kersey Braun, Logan (Maggie)Braun (children Evelyn and Wylder), and Bailey (Bobby) Buttrey (child Bennett); Sister-in-law Nancy Williamson; Literal Hosts of nieces and nephews. 

Lavon was proceeded in death by her husband David, parents Kate & Jake Williamson, children Mark and Marjorie; all her siblings—Luther (Marion) Williamson, Ray Williamson, Lucille (Ray) Klingenberg, and twins Merwin (Alice) & Murrel Williamson.  Also proceeding her in death were her in laws, Marion and Maggie Benedict, Vergie (Dick) Wright, Bertha (Wilson) Rennison, Violet (Warn) Chapman, Madge (John) Hutchison, Carrie (Carl) Harrison, Madge (John) Hutchison, Rubin Benedict, Maurice (Jean) Benedict, Gerald (Norma)Benedict; Bonus Grandson David Joseph Braun and Great-Granddaughter Harlie Sue Hendrickson. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2025 at Styninger Funeral Home in Nashville with Rev. Scott Sharp officiating. Burial will follow in the Beaucoup Cemetery.  Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and one hour prior to service at the funeral home.Memorial contributions may be made to Nashville First Baptist Church, NCHS Drama Club or Altamont Grade School PTO.

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