On Sunday, June 30, 2019, in Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Spartanburg, SC, our beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, Mrs. Bennie Mae Fowler Hemphill, departed this earthly house and entered her heavenly home.

She was born on April 18, 1940, in Gaffney, SC to Mrs. Estella Crosby Fowler and the late James “Jim” Fowler.

Bennie Mae was united in Holy Matrimony to James “Goat” Hemphill on May 5, 1963.  Through 56 years of marriage, they were blessed with three daughters and two sons.

She joined Bethel Baptist Church at an early age and served as an usher during her early years. After twenty-five plus years of service, Bennie Mae retired from the House-keeping Department of Commercial Hotel.

“Mother” was an inspiration of strength, joy, love and encouragement to her family, friends, and people in general.  Mother had a passion for cooking and she was well-known in the community for a good hot meal.  She will always be remembered in our hearts and in the hearts of many. We love her and will miss her greatly.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, James and Estella Fowler; a daughter, Deitrich “Dede” Hemphill; a grandchild, Thomas Tyran Houey; father and mother in-law, Ebb and Mrs. Hattie Vanlue Hemphill.

She leaves to cherish loving memories: her husband, James Hemphill, of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Carol Houey (Thomas) and Mrs. Ann Jefferies (Chris), of Gaffney; two sons, Marlin Hemphill (Teresa) and Jamie Hemphill, of Gaffney; three brothers, Kerry Fowler (Dedra), of Gaffney, raised in the home as a son, MSgt. James Sarratt, U.S. Army Ret. (Margaret) of Spartanburg, and Grover Lee Fowler of Waldorf, MD; a sister, Mrs. Teresa Dawkins, of Gaffney; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

The Funeral Service will be Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. in Bethel Baptist Church of Gaffney, South Carolina, with the Reverend Dr. James Sanders, Jr., Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Frederick Memorial Gardens, Gaffney, SC.

The Gilmore Mortuary