DELORES WHORTON BENSON

Delores Whorton Benson, the oldest child of Blanche and Dee Whorton, was born on Oct. 4, 1935, in Springfield, MO. She made her transition into eternal life on July 29, 2021.

A graveside service will be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery Friday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m.

At the age of 12, Delores accepted Christ as her personal savior and was baptized by the Rev. Arthur Butcher, pastor of Alexander Chapel Primitive Baptist Church at that time. She remained an active member there for many years. In later years, she joined Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church.

Delores graduated Douglass Elementary School Dunbar High School and attended Texas Southern University in Houston.

After living in California, Fort Worth and Houston, she returned to Mexia to make her home.

In Mexia, she was very active in the community and a founding member and first president of the League of In volved Women; an organization of activist and civic-minded Black women committed to improving the quality of life for Black people, young and old, in Mexia. As an organization, the League of Involved Woman was, and still is, instrumental in accelerating Black political participation in elections and the appointment of Black city officials in Mexia. It was a pioneering force for change in Mexia and Limestone County. The history of the League of Involved Women is recorded in a book entitled “Black Tex as Women,” by Ruthe Wingarten and in “Black Women in Texas” that is part of the Texas State History Museum.

Delores was also a founding member and first president of the Dunbar-Douglass Reunion Association. She retired from the Mexia Independent School District as a teachers aide after many years of employment. In the course of that time, she took special interest in supporting and mentoring Black students in Mexia High School.

Delores was married twice. Her first marriage, to Junior Brown, ended in divorce. She later married Tyree Benson, her husband of many years, who predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her parents as well as her brothers, D.L. and Turner.

She is survived by her son, Keith Marcus Spencer; her sisters, Jennie Ann and Rosena; her brother Anderson; nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.

Services will be conducted by Moore’s Angelic Funeral Home, of Teague.