Exie Bennett

Exie Bennett, 90, passed away on July 25, 2017. She was a retired small business owner and lived her entire adult life in Bevilles Corner. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Center Hill Cemetery, with Pastor Kevin Franklin officiating. Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her husband, Emery Bennett; one son, Bernie Kay Kimbrough; one brother, Adrian Foy; and two sisters, Frances Mobely and Eula Barber. She is survived by her son, Steve Kimbrough (Beth) of Howey-In-The-Hills, FL; two sisters, Edith Swinson of Maple Hill, NC and Roxie Stalder of Atchison, KS; sister-in-law Phoebe Foy of Kinston, NC; three grandchildren, Justin Kimbrough of Temple Terrace, Ryan Kimbrough of Cocoa, and Kelly Dodd (Marc) of Clermont; and four great-grandchildren. Exie excelled at traditional southern cooking. She loved hosting holiday meals featuring full tables and stuffed bellies. She fed everyone - even those just stopping by to work on her house or mow her yard. She enjoyed baking and made the world's best pear cobbler. Her red velvet and coconut cakes were beyond reproach and her fruitcake cupcakes were a Christmas tradition for years. She was an incredibly strong and hard-working woman. Every morning she was up before sunrise, reading the paper and ready to jump start the day. If anything was different- a newborn calf or a leaky pipe, she discovered it during her morning roundabout stroll. She'd spend hours in her canning building "putting up" zipper peas and other vegetables, or applying her green thumb in her beautiful garden - growing roses and hydrangeas. When she finally did sit down, she'd busy her hands sewing and knitting. She made clothes, quilts, tree skirts, and warm socks for nursing home patients. A few of her favorite things included: poinsettias at Christmas time, cardinals, tending to the cows that occupied her 10 acres, shopping with her granddaughter or friends at HSN stores. She also loved baby dolls and one could always be found on her perfectly made bed. On Monday mornings, she enjoyed visiting the Webster flea market. She was a friend of many produce vendors. She would bring plastic bags and share family conversation. They looked forward to seeing her and would save "grade outs" for her at special prices. Exie never forgot her North Carolina roots. She was a true southern gem, amazingly talented at all things homemade. She was loved by many and will be dearly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to: Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org), P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, Florida.

Exie Bennett

January 20, 1927 - July 25, 2017