Elinor Brown Benefield

Elinor Brown Benefield died peacefully at home on the bayou, on November 6, 2019. She was born at her family home in Hammond, Louisiana on February 17, 1930 to Leon and Hazel Brown. Elinor graduated from the laboratory school at Southeastern University in 1947, then Louisiana State University in 1951, with a major in Art Education. She taught art in Delaware for a year and returned to teach in New Orleans. She later went to work at D. H. Holmes department store where she was an advertising artist for three years. While in New Orleans, she met and married Tom Benefield. They were married for 49 years until his death in 2004. Mrs. Benefield was employed for many years as a graphic artist at Gayfers Department Store. She was a charter member of the Craftsmen’s Guild of Mississippi, a docent at Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, and a founding member of the Gulfport Galleria of Fine Arts. She was also a Golden Arrow sister of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity, Louisiana Beta Chapter, devoted to Mississippi Alpha uniChapter and a charter member of the Gulf Coast Alumnae Club. She was also a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Honors Foundation and the LSU Alumni Association. She was a life-time member of the International Clan MacInnes Society as well as the Gulfport Yacht Club. A lifelong Methodist, she dedicated her prayers, presence, gifts and service to her church. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church since 1959, and attended Leggett United Methodist Church since 2012, where her daughter Rachel is the pastor. Elinor was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas E. Benefield, Jr., M.D. She is survived by her brother Leon Brown and her sons, Boyd P. Benefield, M.D. (Dianna) and Donald W. Benefield, M.D., (Patricia), daughter, Rev. Rachel E. Benefield-Pfaff (Scott); grandchildren, Porter Benefield, Carter Benefield (Natalie), Sarah Benefield, Hannah Benefield Shelby (Mason), Hayley Benefield, Hattie Benefield, Thomas-Scott Pfaff, and Elinor “Ellie” Pfaff; great grandchildren, Field Shelby, Wilder Shelby, and Parker Benefield. Visitation will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Friday, November 8th from 5-7 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Saturday, November 9th at 11 a.m., where friends may visit at 10 a.m. Graveside service will be held at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, family members request memorial contributions to Trinity United Methodist Church, 5007 Lawson Ave. Gulfport, MS 39507 or Leggett United Methodist Church, 1410 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39530. Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com