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Bennie Ree Slay Givens, 97, passed away from this life on June 2, 2018 at Magee General Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Mendenhall.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 3:00 PM at Colonial Chapel Funeral Home Mendenhall. The Burial will follow in Mendenhall City Cemetery. Bro. Rodney Anderson and Bro. Justin Craft will officiate. Colonial Chapel Funeral Home of Mendenhall is in charge of arrangements. (601) 847-4401
Bennie was born to Ben and Mary Slay at their home on April 12, 1921, in Weathersby Mississippi. She attended Weathersby elementary school prior to her family moving to Mendenhall when she was ten.
She was active member of her high school band playing the trumpet and alto horn. She graduated from Mendenhall High School in 1939. After a senior trip to New York and Canada, Bennie attended Copiah- Lincoln College where she was a member of the band. After a year at Co-Lin, she attended Draunghan’s Business College in Jackson Mississippi. After returning back to Simpson County, she was employed with the Selective Service in Mendenhall, where she met Robert “Bob” Givens.
Bennie Ree married Bob September 30, 1945 and they moved to Greenwood Mississippi. In January of 1951 the United States Navy transferred Bob to Honolulu Hawaii. After a year in Hawaii and Bob retiring from the military, they moved back to Mendenhall to start a family. Bennie Ree and Bob moved to the Mississippi State Sanatorium in 1955, where she worked in the Bookkeeping Office. Once Sanatorium became Boswell she worked retire in 1986.
After retirement, Bennie was active member of the Mendenhall Hospital Ladies Auxiliary for 10 years. Planting flowers and working in her yard were her favorite past time. She also enjoyed embroidering.
Bennie Ree was a member of Mendenhall First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter Gail Givens of Mendenhall; son Gordon Givens (Lisa) of Mendenhall, granddaughter Hayley Givens Davis (Zach) of Niceville, Fl; great-granddaughter Reese Davis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Mary Slay and husband Robert E. Givens.
Music provided by Ms. Brenda Jones.
Pallbearers will be Zach Davis, Adam Eubanks, Benjie Purser, and Ronald Purser.
Thank you to Faith Kennedy and staff at Strong River Villa in Mendenhall for their care and support during this time.
