Jean Brigham Bennett was born October 3, 1923, to Charlotte Brigham and Dr. William Randall Brigham in Dublin, Georgia.  She graduated from Shorter College in Rome Georgia in 1944.  In 1946 she married William Perry Bennett, an ensign in the US Navy stationed at the Naval hospital in Dublin.  Their daughter, Susan, was born in 1949.  After serving in the Navy and living in Germany, they relocated to Springfield, Mo. in 1958.

Jean was associated with the Springfield School System for 22 years as a teacher at Oak Grove and Wilder schools and in the Building Services Department of the Administration. Upon retirement she was active in several bridge groups, Chapter FT of PEO, the Home Design Art Group, the Southern Club, and she served on the board of the Mary E. Wilson Home.  She had been a member of King's Way Methodist Church for over 50 years.

Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Bill, a half-sister Charlotte Turner, and her beloved grandson, Seth Brigham White.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Bennett White and husband, John Turner White; grandson, Ethan Dearing White (Ann Baty White) and great grandson, John Francis White, and Vivienne Jean White, scheduled to arrive in October (!) and loving granddaughter-in-law, Ashley Pieper White. Jean is also survived by her sister, Caroline Brigham Bell, of Dublin, Georgia and her loving nieces and nephews, Fran Walker, Caroline Maki (John), Dyna Brown (Al) of Atlanta; Dr. Fred Moorman (Thao) of Athens, Ga.; and Dr. Brigham Moorman of Dublin; her nephews, Dr. Robert Bennett (Cynthia), Andy Bennett (Sharman) of Springfield; Steve Bennett (Karin Kilpatric) of Boulder, Co. and all of their loving families; and her sister-in-law, Valentina Bennett of Washington, DC.

Additional family members who preceded Jean in death are Bill's twin brother, Robert Cloud Bennett, (Angie Busiek Bennett), and brother-in-law, Herschel Eugene Bennett.

Jean was a woman of dignity and grace who had an abundance of southern charm.  She was dearly loved by many friends and family.  The family would like to especially thank those at Cox Hospice and those at the Manor at Elfindale who cared for Jean so lovingly over these last months.

There will be a visitation at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home from 12-1:30 on Saturday, August 31. A graveside service for the family will follow at Maple Park Cemetery where Jean will be buried next to her beloved husband.