Our beloved Ethel Lee Windham Storey Bennett, age 90, of Battle Creek, Michigan, was called home to glory on the evening of Tuesday, August 26, 2016, at Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek. For the last six years preceding her death, Ethel was a resident at the Laurels of Bedford Nursing Home and Battle Creek Manor Nursing Home.
Ethel was born May 5, 1926 in Dancy, Alabama to the late Reb and Jessie Woods Windham. She attended school in Pickens County, where she went to church regularly with her family and helped to care for her younger siblings. In 1944, Ethel was united in Holy Matrimony to Zack Jasper Storey. While living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, God blessed this union with a daughter, Jessie Jean Storey. After several years, the family moved to Battle Creek, MI where the union was blessed with a second child, a son, Lester Jasper Storey.
In 1983, Ethel married Jodie M. Bennett of Battle Creek. After working many years in housekeeping at the Battle Creek Sanitarium Hospital, Ethel obtained her GED and went on to earn her certification as a surgical technician. She worked primarily in the operating room at the Sanitarium Hospital. Upon her retirement from the hospital, Ethel worked as a lunchroom monitor at Dudley Elementary School, and as a nurse’s aide at several nursing homes in Galesburg and Battle Creek.
Ethel accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age and upon moving to Battle Creek, she joined Second Missionary Baptist Church. Later she and her family moved to the west side of the city and joined Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. Ethel loved her church and was a very active, faithful and devoted member until she became ill.
She attended Sunday School regularly and served as a member of the Stewardess Board, where she trained many of the stewardesses in their service to the Lord. In addition, she was a member of the Enid Evans Missionary Society, the Senior Choir, and co-founder of the Food Pantry at Mt. Zion A.M.E.
Ethel was admired for her strength, wisdom, talents, and creativity. She loved needlework, crocheting and making quilts and was a member of the knitting and sewing ministry. She also enjoyed singing, gardening, cooking, traveling, learning to play the keyboard, reading the Bible, making new friends and was an avid bowler. Ethel was known for her delicious, homemade pound cakes, greens, turkey and cornbread dressing. Her greatest joys came from serving in the church and attending events and activities with her children and grandchildren.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband Jodie M. Bennett, former husband Zack J. Storey, her parents, sisters Mary Alice Daniels, Lucinda Long, Bertha Moore, Irene Hubbard, Lillie Settles and brothers John Lee Windham and Hugh Walter Windham.
Ethel leaves to cherish her loving memory: daughter, Dr. Jessie J. Storey-Fry of Lansing, MI., son, Lester J. (Angela) Storey, of Bonaire, GA.; grandchildren, Dr. Falyne Jessica Fry, M.D. of Detroit, MI., Alicia Storey, Lester “Dominique” (Ashley) Storey; two great grandchildren, Camille and Jagger Storey; sisters, Juanita Whiting and Billie Scott, of Battle Creek, MI.; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Windham of Battle Creek, MI., and Louise Johnson of Omaha, NE.; brother-in-law, Amos B. Hubbard of Tuscaloosa, AL.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends from 5-8pm, Thursday, September 1, 2016 at Bachman Hebble, Funeral Home, 223 N. Bedford Rd. Battle Creek, MI. A second family hour will begin at 9am on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Mt. Zion A.M.E. church. A celebration of life will begin at 10:00am on Friday, September 2, 2016 at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church, located at 364 W. Van Buren Street in Battle Creek, MI.

Interment to follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery.

The family asks that memorials or donations be sent to the Stewardess Board, Women’s Missionary Society or Food Pantry of Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church.

To view Ethel’s personalize web page, please visit www. bachmanhebble.com