Cleo Miller

Mrs. Cleo Benfield Miller, 96, of the Sharon School Community, Statesville, NC passed away peacefully on Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Gordon Hospice House. Born July 15, 1914 in Iredell County, she was the daughter of the late Jacob Henry Benfield and Sally Katherine Pope Benfield. She was a graduate of Sharon School and on Jan. 15, 1933, was married to John Perry "Pete" Miller who died March 5, 2000. She worked for knitting mills during her earlier years and retired from Beauty Maid Mills. Mrs. Miller was a long time member of Sharon Lutheran Church, where she had been a Sunday School Teacher, a member of the choir and the Lutheran Women and prepared many meals for the church members and church meetings. She enjoyed working in her garden and sharing its fruits by freezing and canning for her family, friends and neighbors. She also enjoyed sewing. In addition to her husband of 67 years, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Nona Morrow, Irene Morrow and recently Annie Myrtle Benfield Miller on March 2, 2011 and two brothers, Ralph Benfield and Dewey Benfield. Mrs. Miller is survived by one son, L. Dent Miller and wife, June of Statesville, two granddaughters, Robin M. Turbeville and husband, Steve of Claremont, NC, Mary Miller of Wilmington and six great grandchildren, Travis Elliott, Martin Turbeville, Perry Turbeville, Lonnie Turbeville, Tess Turbeville and Mary Claire Kyles. One sister, Alma B. Bost of Statesville along with two brothers, Ross Benfield of Catawba and Glenn Benfield of Statesville, also survives. A funeral service to celebrate the life of Mrs. Miller will be conducted 4:00 p.m. Thursday, April 21, 2011 at St. Johns Lutheran Church in Statesville with Rev. Gene Bruce and Rev. Darrell Norris officiating. Burial will follow in the Sharon Lutheran Church Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Ted Goins, Jr., Ernie Pope, Jeromy Lockman, Larry Marlin, Dr. James Foushee, Travis Elliott, Martin Turbeville and Henry Benfield. Honorary pallbearers will be J.C. Morrow, Dr. William L. Brown, JD Benfield, Hubert Morrow, Tony Elliott and Fred Robinette. The family will visit with friends on Thursday 2:00-4:00 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church. Memorials may be made to Sharon Lutheran Church, 2116 Island Ford Rd., Statesville, NC 28625 or to the Gordon Hospice House, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, NC 28625. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to caregivers, Misty Lockman, Jeromy Lockman, Dr. James Foushee and his staff, along with the staff of the Gordon Hospice House for their care and love to Mrs. Miller Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Mrs. Cleo Benfield Miller.