Gloria Jean Benton

Celebration of Life for Gloria Jean Benton

            Gloria Jean Benton, also known as “Sugar,” was born on November 13, 1950 in Rocky Ford, Georgia. She was the fourth of eight children born from the union of the late Willie Henry and Emma Mae Benton.

She entered her eternal rest on Saturday, December 23, 2023, at Holy Cross Davis Hospital in Layton, Utah after suffering complications from cardiac arrest. She put up a good fight, being the strong-willed woman that she was, however, the Lord had other plans for her.

She was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was a faithful member of the Zion Rest Church of God by Faith. She graduated from Dillard High School, class of 1968. After graduation, she relocated to Excelsior Springs, Missouri, where she entered the Job Corps program, was part of the swim team and earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). After completion of this program, she returned to Fort Lauderdale where she was able to utilize her CNA education by working in various medical facilities including working at Plantation General Hospital and Heritage Park Care Center. Health care was one of her many passions and she acquired a vast knowledge and expertise of different medical terms.

At the age of 23, she made the decision to move to Ogden, Utah with her younger sister Elaine to attend college at the then Weber State College, now known as Weber State University. Both she and her sister drove to Utah from Florida, a trip she would take again to Florida and back in October of 2023, to attend the funeral services of her older sister Ruby. She had a bond with all her siblings and talked with all of sisters and brother on a regular basis. Her children will always cherish the memories of the special bond she had with her sisters Ruby and Elaine. Anytime she was on the phone, you knew she was talking with one of them.

While residing in Ogden, Utah she accepted the Lord as her Savior and was one of the original members of the True Vine Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Grover C. Walker, where she served as secretary. In the late 90’s she became a member of Finley Temple, Church of God in Christ and served on the Deaconess Board.

She loved to read books and would often send her son Cyrus when he was younger to the library to check out books written by V.C. Andrews, one of her favorite authors. She enjoyed listening to her audio version of the Bible and subscribed to the Ogden Standard Examiner newspaper so that she could stay up to date on current events. Watching westerns, Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons and ABC News Tonight with David Muir, were some of her favorite television programs. She would get upset if she missed her daily news show or if you disturbed her while she was watching them.

She loved listening to music by some of her favorite artists including Billy Porter, Keith Sweat, and Prince. She was so excited when she attended a concert in Las Vegas to see a Prince impersonator with her niece, Vashti and she never stopped talking about it. Another highlight she never stopped talking about was when her children presented her with V.I.P tickets for Mother’s Day, 2023 to see Billy Porter in concert. This included a meet and greet back stage, where she was the only person that he called out for her, held her hand, and took a photo with him.

She spent time volunteering and worked as a Senior Companion for Weber County Human Services. She developed close bonds and friendships with all her clients. Her spiritual calling was working with the elderly community. She performed her duties professionally, effectively and with dignity and respect.

The strongest bond she had was with her seven-year-old grandson, Royal. Royal was loved so much by his Granny, and she would do everything possible to make sure he had everything he wanted. You could often find Royal in bed with his Granny, tucked under the covers watching YouTube videos on her phone. She equally shared a special bond with her daughter, Paige and they were together every day from the time Paige was born. Paige would share everything with her mother and often sought out her advice and guidance in life. This bond increased after Paige became a mother herself.  Paige along with her husband, Derrick became her primary caregivers assisting her with her everyday needs. Then of course there was her first born, Cyrus. Cyrus and his mother grew up together, spending time with each other when it was only the two of them prior to his sister Paige being born and interrupting the peace, twelve years later.

Preceding her in death are both her Parents, father, Willie (Bee) Henry Benton, mother, Emma Mae Watkins Benton. Siblings, PFC Henry (Shot) Benton, Jerry (Bug) Benton, Sister-in-Law, Alberta Benton, Ruby (Sister) Benton-Yates, Michelle (Mich) Benton Williams, her nephews, Corwin Benton, all of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Garrick Lewis Jr of Port St. Lucie, Florida.

She leaves to cherish her wonderful memories: Her Children, Cyrus Uttah (Brett) of West Jordan, Utah, Paige Thompson (Derrick) of Clearfield, Utah. Her Grandson and best friend, Royal Scott of Clearfield, Utah. Her Siblings, Elaine Benton Jones (Michael) of Castle Rock, Colorado, Nathan Benton, of Lauderhill, Florida, Belinda Benton Lewis (Garrick) of Port Saint Lucie, Florida. Half-sister Beatrice Bowers of Statesboro, Georgia, her niece raised as a sister, Tonya Benton-McKoy (Jeff) of District Heights, Maryland, close Nephew, Hiram Donley (Candace) of North Ogden, Utah, close Niece, Vashti Walker (Vijay) of Las Vegas, Nevada, close Great-Nephew, Kaleb Donley of Ogden, Utah, Her Aunts, Ella Weese Robbins of Bridgeton, New Jersey, Dorothy Watkins of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her Goddaughter, Tomeka Young Carpenter of Orlando, Florida. Her Step-Grandchildren Cherokie Balthrop, of North Ogden Utah, Dakota Balthrop of North Ogden Utah, Branson Balthrop (Jen) of Cedar City, Utah, Koltin Clonts (Jake) of Clovis, California, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and step great-grandchildren that loved her very much.

            The family of Gloria would like to thank Eric Moyes with Lindquist’s Mortuary for caring for their loved one as if she were his own. The ICU Staff at the Holy Cross Davis Hospital, Clearfield Paramedics and Fire Department from Stations #41 and #42, Cyrus’ High School classmate, Brandje Bingham for doing her hair and our mother’s friends, Andrea Shackleford, Betty Chambers, Dale Garrison, Eartha White, Elaine Jenkins, and Teresa Ector for their friendship with her over the years.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Lindquist's Roy Mortuary, 3333 W. 5600 S. Friends may visit with family on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Saturday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the mortuary.

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