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| "One nation under God" |
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"Union, Justice and Confidence" |
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| "Save our flag, change our hearts" |
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"By valour and arms" |
Physically, life for me began in September 1941, in Crosby, Amite County, MS. Crosby was a
booming sawmill town with half located in Wilkinson County and the other half in Amite County.
Mother happened to be staying with her sister in the "Hollywood" section of town on the Amite
County side.
I am a true "southern belle" having spent all of my life, except for a couple of years, in
Mississippi and Louisiana. I have traveled to most of the United States and several foreign
countries, yet no matter where I wander or roam, the hills of Mississippi will always be my home.
I am proud of my southern heritage, and most proud to be an American !
Faith
My Faith in God ....
I like to refer to September 18, 1979, as the date of my second birth. This was the day that
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and was truly "born again". I was a new creation
and old things were passed away! It became my earnest desire to live each day in service to
my Lord and to make a difference in the lives of others, and to strive to leave this world a
better place.
I still want to live each day for Christ and to be a blessing to those I meet. Each new day
is a gift from God to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest. I would like to be remembered as a
mother who loves and raised her children in the best way that she knew how, and to be the best
"Mammaw" that I can be. I want the love of God to shine through me and touch everyone that I
meet, and to help those I can. I cannot do it in my own strength, but I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me.
Family
My Family ....
I was blessed with two beautiful children, Sharon and Thomas. Sharon is
married to Jim, lives in Minneapolis, MN., where she is an accountant and works part time
at Border’s Bookstore. Thomas is married to Tonya and has two absolutely adorable
sons, Samuel and Stephen. I am one proud Mammaw!! Thomas is a Rotating Machinery Specialist
at the ExxonMobil Plastics Plant in Baton Rouge, LA. My husband, Michael Benoit, is an "accountant-entreprenur"
and an avid fisherman. He is a native of Houma, LA., where we now live.
Personal
My Personal life ...
In 1980, I became actively involved in local politics, and became the first President of the Amite Area
Republican Women’s Club and the chairman of the Amite County Republican Party. I attended the
1984 Republican Convention in Dallas, as an alternate delegate. Because of my deep love of
history and patriotism, I joined the Amite River Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution, and the Wilkinson County Chapter of the United Daughters of The Confederacy.
I also joined the Pink Ladies and helped out at the local community hospital, using my talents
in ceramics to help raise money for many hospital projects. In 1984, I wrote my first book,
"A Family History and Genealogy of John Seaborn - Lelia Ellen Crum and Their Descendants".
I also began quilting, candlewicking, embroidery and cross stitch. After our home in Amite
County, MS. burned in 1988, we moved to Houma, La. Though divorced and remarried, both of my
parents lived in Houma, thus making the transition more appealing. I spent the
next 7 ½ adventurous years, traveling, researching, and writing my second book,
"The Millers of Sand Mountain and Allied Families". It was published in 1995 and over
400 copies have been sold. It was a true labor of love and a tribute to the godly men and
women who came before us and left us with a great legacy.
Both of these books are available
for purchase.
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