Lorene Frances Benfield Fox, 95, of Statesville, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2014 at Autumn Care. She was born in Alabama on October 23, 1918, to the late Harvey Sylvester and Tressie Timms Benfield. Mrs. Fox was educated in the Iredell County Schools and on February 21, 1942, married Ralph C. Fox who preceded her in death on February 6, 1995. They had almost 54 years of marriage before his passing. She worked as a nurse assistant at Davis Hospital and served as a private duty nurse to provide home care for families. She was a member of Beulah Baptist Church where she served in many capacities. She was Director of the Women's Missionary Union, served on the Benevolent Committee, the Nomination Committee, and was a Sunday School Teacher for over forty years. She was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters and two grandchildren. Mrs. Fox is survived by two sons, Boyce A. Fox and Dennis Fox, and two daughters, Shelby Jean Benfield and Charlot F. McCoy. She is further survived by fourteen grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, two brothers, Dr. Ray Benfield and H.S. Benfield, Jr. and a sister Charlcie Lackey. Funeral services for Mrs. Fox will be Friday, January 31, 2014, at 3:00 PM at Beulah Baptist Church with Rev. Henry Cook, Dr. Dean Simpson, Dr. Allen Roberts and Dr. Ray Benfield officiating. Burial will follow at the New Bethany Baptist Church. The family will visit with friends Thursday, January 30, 2014, from 6:00-8:00PM at Nicholson Funeral Home. Active pallbearers will be the Deacons at the church and her grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Beulah Baptist Church, 1851 Old Mountain Statesville, NC 28677 or to the International Missionary Board, Office of Finance, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767. Online condolences can be made to the family at
www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries
and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Lorene Fox.