Thelma Benjamin

THELMA BENJAMIN

Cedar Rapids

Thelma Johnson Benjamin, 94, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully after a short illness on Sunday, May 11, 2014, at Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids. Services: 1 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Mount Zion Baptist Church, Cedar Rapids, by Pastor Damian Epps and eulogy by Marques Smith. Family will greet friends from noon until service time Friday at the church. Burial: Oak Hill Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements by Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include her daughter, Geraldine Edwards of Cedar Rapids; grandchildren, Kevin Edwards of Marion and Kim (Leroy) Smith-Taylor of Cedar Rapids; great-grandchildren, Marques (Leshawn), Renesa, Morgen (Gilbert), Adam (April) and Grant; siblings, Corneilia Proctor of Harrisburg, Pa., and Dewey Johnson Jr. of Tampa; nephew, James (Stacy) Benjamin of Los Angeles, Calif.; and niece, Corneilia Proctor of Harrisburg, Pa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clarence Benjamin; and siblings, Dorothy Johnson, Margaret Taylor and Gloria Johnson.

Thelma was born Jan. 22, 1920, Andalucía, Ala., daughter of Dewey and Azzilene (Avery) Johnson. She married Clarence Benjamin in June 1970. Thelma was an avid gardener and baker. She was best known for her peach cobbler and pound cakes. Thelma was a devoted church mother and on the Mothers' board at the church, there she was known as "Mother Benjamin" or "Grandma B." She enjoyed being around children and teaching Sunday school.

In lieu of flowers a

memorial fund has been

established.

Please sign the online guest book for Thelma at

www.murdochfuneral

home.com under

obituaries.