Leo Routh

On June 16, 2011, Leo Benson Routh, with her children at her bedside, graduated into eternity at Indywood Estate in Cleveland, MS. Miss Leo was born on January 16, 1920 near Dockery, Mississippi and attended school in Linn and Gunnison. She was the daughter of Rhonda Edwards and Moley Benson.
She was a charter member of Trinity Baptist Church in Rosedale, MS and remained an active member until she moved to the community of Stringtown in 1993. She then joined the Benoit Baptist Church, a part of the Benoit Union Church. She was a member of the Ladies Bible Sunday School Class and was loved and respected by the ladies in her class. She often received certificates for perfect attendance at Sunday School.
Miss Leo, as she was affectionately known, gave her life to Christ at a small Baptist Mission started by Brother Joseph Oliver in Rosedale in 1957. The Mission later became Trinity Baptist Church. While at Trinity Baptist she was active in all functions of the church, serving on the pastor search committee, Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, sang in the choir, member of the WMU, Hospitality Committee which included serving meals to BSU students from Delta State, and participated in January Bible Study group each year. To make money for special projects for the church the WMU ladies "fed the Lions", the Lions Club of Rosedale. She was the unofficial "Church Flower Lady" and often provided flowers for the Sunday morning church services.
She was employed at Simpson Cleaners in Rosedale for 15 years and was like a family member t the Simpson's. Later she decided that she would like to become a school bus driver for the West Bolivar County School district and drove a bus for 15 years. Miss Leo set her rules early and let the boys and girls know in no uncertain terms that she would not put up with any bad language or misbehavior on her bus and if her rules were broken they would be put off the bus. Coach Leland Young use her bus to transport the football ream to out of town games. Miss Leo told him that she expected her bus to be as clean when he returned in as it was when he picked it up and it always was.
She was happiest when she was working in her yard and garden in which she grew many beautiful flowers and an abundance of vegetables. She loved sharing her flowers for weddings in the community and for church on Sunday. Any time she had visitors to her home her favorite thing was to take them on a tour of her yard and garden. Her children dubbed her as the "Original Garden Mama" and she was "Green" way before it was environmentally friendly to be green. She has a special talent for making pickles and a famous "hot sauce" which she shared with many of her friends and her children. When giving away things that she had canned her only request was that they return her jars. When teased by her children for being so frugal her answer was always "I lived through the depression". Her health had begun to decline at age 90 but she still enjoyed working in her flower garden, sitting on the ground pulling weeds.
Her 90th birthday was celebrated with a party given by her children and attended by 85 of her friends and relatives. She had a wonderful time at her party visiting with family and friends and she could not believe so many people had come to help her celebrate her birthday. She received many beautiful birthday cards.
She was preceded in death by her father, Moley B. Benson; her mother, Rhoda Benson Wells and stepfather, R.D. Wells; husband Earl Routh, and a daughter, Phyllis Trahan. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Oscar Benson, Moley Benson, Jr. who was killed in World War II, Robert Edward Benson and R. B. Benson. Sisters, Lavonia Hunt, Gertrude Forsman Lilly Benson, Amelia Benson, Georgia Alice Benson, Margurite Ruth Benson and grandson Johnny Weeks. She is survived by daughters Dorothy Hester (Austin) Stringtown, Trudie Weeks (Charles) Cleveland, and Sara Barnes (Charles) Greenwood and sons Benson Dexter (Cornelia), Williamsburg, VA, earl Routh, Jr. (Yvonne) Santa Fe, Texas and Richard Clay Beasley (Carol), a nephew, whom she raised. She is also survived by grandchildren Bill Hester (Debbie) Randy Trahan, Stanley Trahan (Laurie), Michael Weeks (Tiffany), Ricky Weeks (Vicky), Carl Routh (Rossy), Robert Routh, Carr Hammond ( Laren), Justin Barnes (Mary Lesa), Elisabeth Beller (Scott) and Susan Dexter. Great grandchildren Trey Hester, Libby McRight (John Hunter), Merideth Van Namen (Stephen), Sara Moreland Hester, Rachael Hester, Connor Trahan, Colt Trahan, Michael Weeks, Matthew Weeks, Jessica Williamson (Lance), Erin Weeks, Morgan Beller, Lauren Beller, Maurico Routh, Ethan Barnes, Mary Olivia Barnes and great-great grandchildren Reine McRight, Hall Van Namen and Brody Hester. She was a loving mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be Sunday, June 19, 2011 at Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a celebration of life at the Benoit Union Church Monday June 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in Beulah Cemetery next to her beloved daughter, Phyllis, and her husband Earl. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Benoit Baptist Church 301 E. Preston Street Beniot, MS or to the Baptist Children's Village P.O. Box 27 Jackson, MS 39060.

First Visitation

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ray Funeral Home 206 Bishop Road Cleveland, Mississippi, United States

Service Information

2:00 pm Monday, June 20, 2011
Benoit Baptist Church 301 EPreston Street Benoit, Mississippi, United States

Interment Information

Beulah Cemetery Beulah Beulah, Mississippi, United States