EARTHA LEE T. BENNETT

Eartha Lee Thames Bennett, 59, died Monday, Aug. 16, 2010, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.

Born March 21, 1951, in Clarendon County, she was a daughter of the late Vernal Thames and Fannie Mae Frazier Gibson. "Monk," as she was affectionately called, was reared by the late Jerry and Mary Lue Frazier. She attended Clarendon County public schools. In her youth, she was a member of Taw Caw Missionary Baptist Church and later joined New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter. She was employed as a teacher's aide by School District 17 for a number of years.

Survivors include a son, Patrick (Tasha) Bennett of Sumter; two daughters, Tonya Sanders of Summerton and Charmain (Corey) Jones of Greenville; eight sisters, Frances Green of Jamaica, N.Y., Glendora Thames of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jestine (Calvin) Mellerson of Opa-Locka, Fla., Dorothy Ragin, Charlene Gibson and Tyronia (Johnny) Bonaparte, all of Summerton, and Mary Ann (Minister Ernest) Green and Catherine (the Rev. Charlie) Hampton of Pinewood; five brothers, Cleveland Frazier and Vernal Thames Jr., both of Miami, Fla., James Gibson Jr. of Sumter and Willie Thames and Thomas (Marguerite) Thames, both of Pinewood; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and a host of other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Terry Thames; and a sister, Cynthia Hilton.

Funeral services were held Aug. 21 at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, U.S. 15 South, with the eulogy presented by the Rev. Roosevelt McFadden. Burial followed in Bradford Cemetery.

The family received friends at the home, 7 E. College St., Sumter.

Online memorials may be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.

Community Funeral Home of Sumter handled arrangements.