Irene Haley Benton was born August 15, 1943 to the late Wilbert Haley & Mattie Wallace Haley in Terra Carter, NC. Irene was a proud graduate of the historically black James B. Dudley High School in 1961. While in attendance, she was an excellent student and a drummer in the Marching Band. Irene spoke often of her dear alma mater and her classmates Hazel and Mabel.

Irene was wed to Earnest Benton, after a brief courtship. Ernest and Irene were married on March 17, 1962. From this union they had four children: Anthony Benton, Ernest Benton (Rashawnda), Tirria Benton, and Brandon Benton (Doreen). Irene loved her children dearly. But her love for the welfare of others didn't stop there. Irene began a profession of caring for her sister's children, neighborhood children (Summit Hills) and any child who needed her. She had the gift of hospitality and showing love to everyone she met.

Irene's gift even extended to her hobby of planting she could grow anything of any kind. If she touched it, it grew and flourished! Even with those five-to-six-inch nails. For sixteen years she sang with "The Voices of Inspiration Ensemble" traveling and spreading the gospel through song.

In 1990 she retired from caring for children and began working with her dear friend Mildred Lancaster at Mildred's Dress Boutique. How she enjoyed going to work with her friend chatting and laughing everyday. She loved it so much, she brought herself suits home all the time...Mildred laughed and let her have them as they ended their day. That's what sister-friends do. Later on, Irene began working for UNCG until she retired in 2007.

Irene has six wonderful and spoiled grandchildren Ryan Benton, Ezra Benton, Twamanze Benton, Malik Benton, Malachi Benton, and Cheyenne Benton and her extended grandchildren Toyrie Collins, Lauren Martin and Timothy Chalmers. There was nothing she wouldn't do for these special grands and their love for her was equally as strong. Irene has five surviving living sibling, Gerald Haley (Catholine), Ronald Wallace, Sharon Nash-Sellars, (Robert), Maria Smith (Kevin), Greta Johnson (Bryant) and a host of nieces and nephews.

A public viewing will be held Monday, December 21, 2020 from 6:30pm-8pm in the Cassie Coote-Brown Chapel of Perry J. Brown Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held at Carolina Biblical Gardens, Jamestown, NC.