Mrs. Josephine Benson

Mrs. Josephine “Jo” (Leathers) Benson, age 99, of Murray, Kentucky passed away, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at the Passion and Purpose HomeCare Assisted Living for our SENIORS in Almo, Kentucky.

Mrs. Benson was born on May 10, 1925, in Nelson County, Kentucky to the late Windell Leathers and Lela (Carney) Leathers. She was a retired special education teacher who taught in Illinois, Kansas, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Murray, The Togetherness Sunday School Class, Ruth Wilson Circle Sunday School Class, and Tucker Prayer Group. Mrs. Benson volunteered for the hospice program, Murray Calloway County Community Improvement Volunteers, and the Senior Citizens Organization. Mrs. Benson loved the Kentucky Derby, and was renowned for her annual Kentucky Derby Parties. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cedric A. Benson; two sisters, Frances Hardison and Dorothy McCarty; and by one brother, Sturgeon Leathers.

Survivors include one son, Eric A. Benson and wife Jane of Murray, Kentucky; one daughter, Debbie York and husband Steve of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; one sister, Betty Ann Upshaw and husband Dewey of Winston Salem, North Carolina; one brother, Rudolph Leathers and wife Mary of Bloomfield, Kentucky; five grandchildren, Christian Carter and wife Renee, Casey Carter, Constance Smith and husband Adam, Carl Benson and wife Kaylee, and Emily Benson; six great grandchildren, Cedric Elliott Carter, Stephanie Diane Gordon and husband Jacob, Gregory Benson, George Benson, Silas Smith and Micah Smith; and one great great grandchild, Echo Gordon; as well as her special caregivers, Linda and Sandy. 

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Rev. Jim Stahler will officiate, and the burial will follow at 1:00 p.m. in the Kentucky Veteran’s Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services. 

Expressions of sympathy can be made to the Humane Society of Calloway County, Suite A, 607 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071

Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com 

J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.