Rev. Dr. Hilda Mae (Adams) Bentley, age 89, of Murray, Kentucky, formerly of Trigg County, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray.
She was born in Cadiz, Kentucky on October 28, 1932, the only child of D.C. and Mattie Dyer Adams. She attended Trigg County schools, graduating with the class of 1949. She married Sammie Bentley, also of Cadiz on Dec 26, 1949. Over the next several years the family grew, adding three sons and a daughter, Dr. Stephen (LaVonne) Bentley now residing in Louisville, Katherine (Jack) Kerr, of Murray, Ky. Dennis (Angela) Bentley of Hillsboro, Missouri and Jeffrey (Dina) Bentley, of Chaparral New Mexico, each with families of their own.
After struggling for a few years with small farms and family businesses, Hilda supplemented their income by teaching piano lessons, mostly to local children. After the birth of her fourth child in 1963 she started attending college at Murray State University and subsequently went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree and began teaching English classes at Trigg County Middle and High school. She continued night and weekend classes at Murray while teaching. During her studies there she dabbled in poetry and some of her works were published in various regional periodicals.
On Sundays and other church occasions she would act as pianist/organist at Bethesda United Methodist Church, as well as teaching Sunday school classes there. In the early 1980s Hilda answered a more significant calling and began the pursuit of a career in the ministry. This was not an especially popular path at the time, more than once she was openly scolded for her decision to break down the rigid walls of tradition.
She persevered in the face of adversity, as she was known to do, and after further studies, another master's degree from Vanderbilt University and then a Doctorate from Lexington Theological Seminary, she was ordained as a minister of the United Methodist Church, serving several Kentucky circuits and congregations. She continued to do so until her retirement. In retirement she served as Pastor Emeritus of Cadiz Methodist Church.
She and Sam retired, peacefully, for several years in their beloved 100+ year old home in Cerulean, remaining there until just after Sam's passing in 2013. They had been married for 64 years.
As her own health began failing her, she moved to assisted living facilities in Cadiz and Murray, and found great joy with frequent visits by friends, family and former congregants. She routinely offered comfort during frequent visits to the other residents. She still spoke and officiated on occasion, one of those later occasions being the lakeside wedding of her eldest son, even while wheelchair bound and of strained voice.
Dr. Bentley was deeply devoted to her family, the church, her congregations and her many calls to service. As a mother she consistently and firmly instilled the values of education, literacy and curiosity in her children.
Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, 138 Main Street in Cadiz. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service hour of 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Cadiz United Methodist Church, 482 Lakota Drive, Cadiz, KY. 42211. Burial will follow in Cerulean Cemetery in Cerulean, KY.
Memorial Contributions can be made to: Cadiz United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1009, Cadiz, KY 42211 and Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
She was born in Cadiz, Kentucky on October 28, 1932, the only child of D.C. and Mattie Dyer Adams. She attended Trigg County schools, graduating with the class of 1949. She married Sammie Bentley, also of Cadiz on Dec 26, 1949. Over the next several years the family grew, adding three sons and a daughter, Dr. Stephen (LaVonne) Bentley now residing in Louisville, Katherine (Jack) Kerr, of Murray, Ky. Dennis (Angela) Bentley of Hillsboro, Missouri and Jeffrey (Dina) Bentley, of Chaparral New Mexico, each with families of their own.
After struggling for a few years with small farms and family businesses, Hilda supplemented their income by teaching piano lessons, mostly to local children. After the birth of her fourth child in 1963 she started attending college at Murray State University and subsequently went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree and began teaching English classes at Trigg County Middle and High school. She continued night and weekend classes at Murray while teaching. During her studies there she dabbled in poetry and some of her works were published in various regional periodicals.
On Sundays and other church occasions she would act as pianist/organist at Bethesda United Methodist Church, as well as teaching Sunday school classes there. In the early 1980s Hilda answered a more significant calling and began the pursuit of a career in the ministry. This was not an especially popular path at the time, more than once she was openly scolded for her decision to break down the rigid walls of tradition.
She persevered in the face of adversity, as she was known to do, and after further studies, another master's degree from Vanderbilt University and then a Doctorate from Lexington Theological Seminary, she was ordained as a minister of the United Methodist Church, serving several Kentucky circuits and congregations. She continued to do so until her retirement. In retirement she served as Pastor Emeritus of Cadiz Methodist Church.
She and Sam retired, peacefully, for several years in their beloved 100+ year old home in Cerulean, remaining there until just after Sam's passing in 2013. They had been married for 64 years.
As her own health began failing her, she moved to assisted living facilities in Cadiz and Murray, and found great joy with frequent visits by friends, family and former congregants. She routinely offered comfort during frequent visits to the other residents. She still spoke and officiated on occasion, one of those later occasions being the lakeside wedding of her eldest son, even while wheelchair bound and of strained voice.
Dr. Bentley was deeply devoted to her family, the church, her congregations and her many calls to service. As a mother she consistently and firmly instilled the values of education, literacy and curiosity in her children.
Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, 138 Main Street in Cadiz. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service hour of 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Cadiz United Methodist Church, 482 Lakota Drive, Cadiz, KY. 42211. Burial will follow in Cerulean Cemetery in Cerulean, KY.
Memorial Contributions can be made to: Cadiz United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1009, Cadiz, KY 42211 and Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
Rev. Dr. Hilda Mae (Adams) Bentley, age 89, of Murray, Kentucky, formerly of Trigg County, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray.
She was born in Cadiz, Kentucky on October 28, 1932, the only child of D.C. and Mattie Dyer Adams. She attended Trigg County schools, graduating with the class of 1949. She married Sammie Bentley, also of Cadiz on Dec 26, 1949. Over the next several years the family grew, adding three sons and a daughter, Dr. Stephen (LaVonne) Bentley now residing in Louisville, Katherine (Jack) Kerr, of Murray, Ky. Dennis (Angela) Bentley of Hillsboro, Missouri and Jeffrey (Dina) Bentley, of Chaparral New Mexico, each with families of their own.
After struggling for a few years with small farms and family businesses, Hilda supplemented their income by teaching piano lessons, mostly to local children. After the birth of her fourth child in 1963 she started attending college at Murray State University and subsequently went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree and began teaching English classes at Trigg County Middle and High school. She continued night and weekend classes at Murray while teaching. During her studies there she dabbled in poetry and some of her works were published in various regional periodicals.
On Sundays and other church occasions she would act as pianist/organist at Bethesda United Methodist Church, as well as teaching Sunday school classes there. In the early 1980s Hilda answered a more significant calling and began the pursuit of a career in the ministry. This was not an especially popular path at the time, more than once she was openly scolded for her decision to break down the rigid walls of tradition.
She persevered in the face of adversity, as she was known to do, and after further studies, another master's degree from Vanderbilt University and then a Doctorate from Lexington Theological Seminary, she was ordained as a minister of the United Methodist Church, serving several Kentucky circuits and congregations. She continued to do so until her retirement. In retirement she served as Pastor Emeritus of Cadiz Methodist Church.
She and Sam retired, peacefully, for several years in their beloved 100+ year old home in Cerulean, remaining there until just after Sam's passing in 2013. They had been married for 64 years.
As her own health began failing her, she moved to assisted living facilities in Cadiz and Murray, and found great joy with frequent visits by friends, family and former congregants. She routinely offered comfort during frequent visits to the other residents. She still spoke and officiated on occasion, one of those later occasions being the lakeside wedding of her eldest son, even while wheelchair bound and of strained voice.
Dr. Bentley was deeply devoted to her family, the church, her congregations and her many calls to service. As a mother she consistently and firmly instilled the values of education, literacy and curiosity in her children.
Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, 138 Main Street in Cadiz. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service hour of 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Cadiz United Methodist Church, 482 Lakota Drive, Cadiz, KY. 42211. Burial will follow in Cerulean Cemetery in Cerulean, KY.
Memorial Contributions can be made to: Cadiz United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1009, Cadiz, KY 42211 and Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
She was born in Cadiz, Kentucky on October 28, 1932, the only child of D.C. and Mattie Dyer Adams. She attended Trigg County schools, graduating with the class of 1949. She married Sammie Bentley, also of Cadiz on Dec 26, 1949. Over the next several years the family grew, adding three sons and a daughter, Dr. Stephen (LaVonne) Bentley now residing in Louisville, Katherine (Jack) Kerr, of Murray, Ky. Dennis (Angela) Bentley of Hillsboro, Missouri and Jeffrey (Dina) Bentley, of Chaparral New Mexico, each with families of their own.
After struggling for a few years with small farms and family businesses, Hilda supplemented their income by teaching piano lessons, mostly to local children. After the birth of her fourth child in 1963 she started attending college at Murray State University and subsequently went on to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree and began teaching English classes at Trigg County Middle and High school. She continued night and weekend classes at Murray while teaching. During her studies there she dabbled in poetry and some of her works were published in various regional periodicals.
On Sundays and other church occasions she would act as pianist/organist at Bethesda United Methodist Church, as well as teaching Sunday school classes there. In the early 1980s Hilda answered a more significant calling and began the pursuit of a career in the ministry. This was not an especially popular path at the time, more than once she was openly scolded for her decision to break down the rigid walls of tradition.
She persevered in the face of adversity, as she was known to do, and after further studies, another master's degree from Vanderbilt University and then a Doctorate from Lexington Theological Seminary, she was ordained as a minister of the United Methodist Church, serving several Kentucky circuits and congregations. She continued to do so until her retirement. In retirement she served as Pastor Emeritus of Cadiz Methodist Church.
She and Sam retired, peacefully, for several years in their beloved 100+ year old home in Cerulean, remaining there until just after Sam's passing in 2013. They had been married for 64 years.
As her own health began failing her, she moved to assisted living facilities in Cadiz and Murray, and found great joy with frequent visits by friends, family and former congregants. She routinely offered comfort during frequent visits to the other residents. She still spoke and officiated on occasion, one of those later occasions being the lakeside wedding of her eldest son, even while wheelchair bound and of strained voice.
Dr. Bentley was deeply devoted to her family, the church, her congregations and her many calls to service. As a mother she consistently and firmly instilled the values of education, literacy and curiosity in her children.
Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, 138 Main Street in Cadiz. The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service hour of 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at Cadiz United Methodist Church, 482 Lakota Drive, Cadiz, KY. 42211. Burial will follow in Cerulean Cemetery in Cerulean, KY.
Memorial Contributions can be made to: Cadiz United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1009, Cadiz, KY 42211 and Anna Mae Owen Residential Hospice House, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, KY 42071.
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