May 23, 2020

Walk through viewing will be held Saturday, May 30, 2020, from 10 a.m. until noon at Baylous Funeral Home for Johnnie Mae Bender, age 89, of Picayune, MS, who died May 23, 2020, at her home. A Graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. in the Picayune Cemetery under the direction of Baylous Funeral Home. Fr., Michael Kelly will officiate at the graveside service.

A native of Birmingham, AL, she was an insurance agent for Universal Life Insurance Company for over 40 years. She was a member of Saint Matthew Missionary Baptist Church. She was a Deaconess, Finance Secretary, server on the Usher Board, school cross guard, she was a member of the Willing Workers Organization.

Survivors include: 2 sons, Sandy (Joan) Bender Jr., of Brooklyn, New York, Ronald Bender of Picayune, MS; 3 daughters, Brenda ( Larry) Breland of Picayune, MS, Linda Brooks of Springlake, MI, Alison ( Richard) Bowling of Forestville, Maryland; 1 step-daughter Annie Pearl Thigoen of Chicago IL; 19 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law James (Georgia) Bender; sister-in-law, Mary Helen Richard; special nephew, Leonard ( Patricia) Bender; nieces and nephew; caregivers,Valencia McCloud, Phyllis Thompson, Shelia Varnado, and Porsche Jones; a host of relatives and friends.

Preceded her in death her husbands Sandy Bender Sr.; 2 sons, Andy and Donald Bender; one daughter, Melveree Billings; parents, John and Alice Holt; and 1 brother James Holt.