Mary Annie Morrow Benton, the daughter of Marion Morrow and Minnie Lee Stokes Morrow, was born on March 8, 1901, in Elba, Alabama. She received her early education in Elba, later moving to Opelika, where she graduated from Opelika High School. She attended Alabama College for two years. After she became Attendance Supervisor of the Opp City Schools, she returned to college, earning the B.S. degree in 1958 from Troy.
Mrs. Benton is the wife of Joe Benton, and they have three daughters–Betty Benton Dorsey, Elba; Jane Benton Davis, Opp; and Joann Benton Powell, Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
Mary Annie Benton, in her more than sixty years residence in Opp, has exerted much influence and leadership in civic, church, and community activities, thus helping to make Opp an outstanding city.
Mrs. Benton served as representative, Opp Area, Covington County Chapter of the American Red Cross during World War II and the Korean conflict. In this capacity she was instrumental in contacting service men for their families and assisting the men to return in time of sickness or other need. She worked as Executive Secretary for the Opp Chapter, and at one time served as part-time secretary of the Andalusia Chapter, American Red Cross. The Mobile Regional Blood Center of the American Red Cross honored Mrs. Benton in 1967 for her work in organizing volunteers for the blood drives.
In 1969 Sixth District, Alabama Federated Clubs named Mrs. Benton Woman of the Year.
She served as Attendance Supervisor, Opp City Schools, from 1947 – 1971. This work gave her the opportunity to find needy families and underprivileged children; and she spent many hours helping to provide necessities for them.
She has been active in the Covington County Unit of the American Cancer Society, where she served on the Education and Transportation Committee and assisted many families in transporting patients to Montgomery or Pensacola for chemotherapy.
Other causes in which she has been active include the March of Dimes, Mental Health, the United Fund, and the Opp Historical Society. She presently serves on the Opp Library Board and is active in the American Association of Retired Persons. She is a charter member of the Three Arts Club and serves on its Scholarship Committee. She is a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, the Garden Club and the Arts Council.
Mrs. Benton has been a faithful member of the First Methodist Church, serving for many years as Superintendent and teacher in the Youth Department of the Sunday School. She has been an active member of the United Methodist Women and served for four years as District President. During her term of office, she was appointed delegate to the National Assembly meeting in Portland, Oregon, in 1968; later on, in 1972 and 1976, she represented her local society at these meetings in Houston, Texas and in Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a delegate to the Jurisdictional meeting of the Methodist Church in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1978 and in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1980. At the present time she is a member of the Administrative Board, First United Methodist Church, Opp, and serves as teacher, Women’s Sunday School Class.
Mrs. Benton typifies the ultimate of service to the community and surrounding area by her genuine Christian spirit, her love for people, and her unselfishness in helping those in need; her commitment to a God-centered life has enabled her to spend fruitful days in building a better world. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
