Fannie Mae "Sis" Benfield Whisnant

Fannie Mae "Sis" Benfield Whisnant, 93, died Friday, December 2, 2011 at Burke Hospice Care Center. She was born in Burke County, NC on December 29, 1917 and was a daughter of the late John Manley Benfield and Fannie Ellen Mincey Benfield. Mrs. Whisnant retired from the Burke County Public School System, where she worked in the cafeteria at Oak Hill School for 25 years, and she enjoyed being around people and children. She was a loving home maker who loved to garden and was devoted to both her family and her church, Oak Hill United Methodist.Mrs. Whisnant is survived by a great-nephew, who was also her caregiver, Billy Franklin and his daughters, Alexis and Mariah all of the home; granddaughter, Karen Darden and her husband, Derrick, and their son, Jalen, of Jamestown, NC; grandson, Jeffery Smith and great grandson, Hunter both of Morganton; brother, Bob Benfield of Morganton; sister, Doris Franklin of Connelly Springs; and many loving nieces and nephews.In addition to her parents, Mrs. Whisnant was preceded in death by her husband, Olen Benjamin Whisnant; daughter, Bennie Mae Whisnant Smith; brothers, Paul, Melvin, Thomas ?Bus?, John ?Bud?, Ralph ?Bubber?, Ray, and Ned Benfield; and sister, Vivian Duckworth.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 6, 2011 in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Rev. David F. Lawrence officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Monday evening, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 29690.