Oma Irene Luallen Benefield, 92, of Heflin died Monday, February 25, 2008, at Cleburne County Nursing Home. Funeral services were held Feb. 27 at Dryden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bill Murray and the Rev. Ray Clevenger officiating. Burial followed at Concord Cemetery in Muscadine. Pallbearers were grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Survivors include her five daughters, Carol (Lenard) Sanders, of Heflin, Jean (Ralph) Hadden, of Pendergrass, Ga., Kathleen Brand, of Heflin, Vanita Bailey, of Pendergrass, Ga., and Gail (David) Stallings, of Marietta, Ga.; one son, Terry (Diane) Benefield, of Heflin; sister, Eudene Moore, of Texas; three brothers, Harvel (Maple) Luallen, of Bowdon, Ga., Hulon (Martha) Luallen, of Douglasville, Ga., and Hobert Luallen, of Atlanta; 19 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Benefield was a lifelong resident of Cleburne County and the oldest member of East Heflin Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Royce Benefield, the father of her children and Byron Williams; a son, Gerald L. Benefield; her parents, Vester and Maybell Luallen; grandson, Michael Tanner; sisters, Videra Luallen Starr, Virginia Maughon; brothers, Harold, Herbert, Herman, Hoyt and Harlen Luallen. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Beacon Hospice, 818 Leighton Ave., Suite A, Anniston, Ala. 36207. Dryden Funeral Home “Caring Service Since 1962.” 256-463-2287
