Mary Joe Bennett went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 19 after a brief illness. Mary Joe was born on February 11, 1932, in Choctaw County, Mississippi to the late Joseph and Callie Gammill. She was valedictorian of her graduating class at Reform High School and a graduate of Jackson Commercial College. Mary Joe was a proud employee of General Motors. Her career spanned 40 plus years at Motors Insurance Corporation and GMAC. Mary Joe married the love of her life, M.S. Bennett, on December 16, 1951, and they were happily married for 69 years. M. S. preceded her in death in February 2021. After their retirement in 1992, Mary Joe and M. S. enjoyed many years of traveling across the United States. As a lover of flowers and everything beautiful, Mary Joe spent much time in her yard growing flowers and often shared what she grew with others. Among her flower favorites were iris, day lilies and amaryllis lilies. Another of her favorite activities was her participation in the water aerobics class at Fitness Lady with her fellow Aqua Bees. Those friendships continued until her death. Mary Joe was a former member of North Park and Trinity Presbyterian churches. Most recently her membership was at Pear Orchard Presbyterian in Ridgeland. Her church friends were her extended family who celebrated and supported her in the great joys and sorrows over the past 50 plus years. Mary Joe was preceded in death by her parents, her husband M. S. and her sister Frances Bradberry. Survivors include: brother Jim Gammill of Madison; daughter Nancy (Mike) Rawls of Ridgeland; sons Larry (Patricia) Bennett of Flora and Bruce (Renia) Bennett of Ridgeland. Grandchildren: Callie (William) Duncan; Jessica (Stephen) Kruger; Zach (Beth) Bennett; Ryan Bennett; Anna Bennett; Audrey Bennett; Austin (Jessica) Blauer; Haiden (Addison) Blauer; and 9 great grandchildren: Will, Grant, Hazel, Sperry, Riley, Alexander ‘Lex’, Lilly, Scarlet, and Elena. Services are Monday, January 24 at Pear Orchard Presbyterian Church. Visitation at 9:00am with funeral at 10:30am. Burial will follow at Natchez Trace Cemetery in Madison. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to French Camp Academy or Palmer Children’s Home.