Mrs. Joyce Ann Gentry Bennett, age 85, of the St. Mary community of Smith County, TN, passed away on Friday morning, July 10, 2026, of cancer complications.
Mrs. Bennett was born on October 9, 1940, to Louis Solon and Reba Petty Gentry. She was united in marriage to Bobby Lee Bennett on July 6, 1959. Mrs. Bennett was saved by the grace of God at a young age and was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. Bennett was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Bobby Lee Bennett, parents Solon and Reba Gentry, grandson Adam Lee Winfree, and brothers David Gentry and Ronnie Gentry.
Mrs. Bennett was a 1958 graduate of Gordonsville High School and worked briefly for the Carthage Shirt Factory before becoming a full-time homemaker and mother to three girls. Along with that role, she enjoyed gardening, crochet, sewing, and decorating.
Mrs. Bennett is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law: Lisa and Janssen Watson of Gordonsville, Lori and Bruce Winfree of Plunkett’s Creek, and Amy and Anthony Phillips of the St. Mary community. She is also survived by three grandsons: Tyler Jay Winfree, Blake Daniel Winfree, and Caleb Anthony Phillips.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Bennett are scheduled to be conducted from the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with Brother Garry McBride officiating. Interment will follow in the Gordonsville Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at 1:00 p.m.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Bennett are scheduled to be conducted from the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. with Brother Garry McBride officiating. Interment will follow in the Gordonsville Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Friday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at 1:00 p.m.
The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church cemetery fund.
