Stone Bros. Funeral Home and Chapel | FL

Obituary For Attorney Margaret Ann Benton

Margaret Ann Benton was born on August 20, 1942 in Fort Pierce, Florida to Dr. Clem C. Benton and Arlena Howard Benton. She had three older siblings: Clem Jr., Arlena Yvonne (Bonnie), and Charles Philip (Bill).

She attended Mrs. McDonald's Kindergarten, Blessed Martin Catholic School, then Lincoln Park Academy which was then located on Means Court. After Margaret graduated from the sixth grade, she attended the new Lincoln Park Academy on 17th street and Ave I.

In high school, Margaret excelled in her studies and took a particular interest in current events and the Lincoln Park community advancement. She was always civic-minded and destined to be active in any community she lived in. During her junior year in high school, she co-founded Omega Lambda Tau, an organization whose goal was to beautify the community as well as provide social activities for Lincoln Park youth. She graduated from Lincoln Park Academy as the valedictorian of the class of 1960. Margaret attended Rockford College in Rockford, Illinois for one year before transferring to Ohio State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History. During her time at Ohio State she studied abroad at Mexico City College in Mexico City, Mexico.

Margaret was a graduate of George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C., where she received her Juris Doctorate. After obtaining her law degree, she clerked for the Neighborhood Legal Assistance Foundation in San Francisco. She was awarded a Reginald Heber Smith Law Fellowship and worked with the program in San Francisco.

Margaret later worked in Miami, Florida as a staff attorney and assistant director of the Community Lawyers, Inc., and as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami. She established the first all-black women’s law firm in Dade County, the Law Firm of Benton & Mathews.

As an attorney in the Treasure Coast, Margaret served clients in St. Lucie, Martin, Palm Beach, Okeechobee and Indian River Counties for more than 20 years. She represented clients in bankruptcy, criminal defense, probate/wills, guardianship, and personal injury. Margaret also practiced Civil Law involving general civil litigation, employee defense in civil service cases, and as a Hearing Officer for St Lucie County School Disciplinary Hearings.

She was an active member of the Florida Bar and was admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Margaret was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, Florida where she served as a Trustee and legal advisor.

Margaret served her community in various civic capacities as well, including memberships and/or leadership roles with the following: St. Lucie County Chamber of Commerce; City of Fort Pierce Planning Board; St. Lucie County Chapter of the American Red Cross; Bethune-Cookman University Associate Board of Trustees; NAACP; Fort Pierce Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and The Treasure Coast Chapter of LINKS, Incorporated. Margaret was the attorney and a founding board member of the Fort Pierce Jazz Society, and the founder of Jazz Spectacular, the first jazz festival on the Treasure Coast.

Margaret and her family have owned and maintained the Zora Neale Hurston House in Fort Pierce, Florida since the time of Ms. Hurston’s death in 1960. The house is currently on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Margaret was active in local and state politics, and served as the Democratic State Committeewoman for St. Lucie County. She delivered the Welcome Address during former President Clinton’s visit to Fort Pierce at the Barack Obama Campaign’s Rally for Change in 2008, and has been a guest political opinion-editorial columnist for the local newspaper.

Ms. Benton also served as a chairperson of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemorative Committee, Inc., of St Lucie County, establishing the King Concert, which celebrates Dr. King’s legacy in music. She chaired the Martin Luther King Committee for the restoration of the historic Lincoln Theater, originally built and own by her father, Dr. Clem C. Benton. She also established the Lincoln Theater Benefit Ball. Both the King Concert and Lincoln Theater Benefit Ball were annual events dedicated to raising funds for the restoration of the Theater.

Margaret Ann Benton is survived by her loving sister Arlena (Bonnie) Benton Lee; nieces and nephews: Deborah Campbell, Yvette Benton Bullock, Craig Benton, Arlena Dawn Lee, Sabrina Hamburg, Clem C. Benton, 3rd, Eric Mario Benton, Julia Lee, and Rembrandt Benton; sister-in-law Carri Benton; friends, and the community that she loved.

Public viewing for Attorney Margaret Ann Benton will take place on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Stone Brothers Funeral Home in Fort Pierce, FL between the hours of 12:00pm and 5:00pm. A Service of Remembrance will follow from 5:00pm-6:30pm. Last rites from the Treasure Coast Links will take place from 6:30pm-7:00pm. Finally, the Omega Omega Service will be rendered by the Fort Pierce Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. beginning at 7:00pm. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Pierce, FL beginning at 1:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Pine Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make and send contributions to Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona, Florida.

Guest Book

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Benton family in this time of sorrow. She will certainly be missed by all of us. May you find comfort in reading 2 Cor 1:3,4,7. Ron and Margaret Harry Pt St Lucie Fl

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I'm just hearing of the passing of Margaret Ann. I'm deeply saddened and my thought and prayers are with you, the family during this very difficult time. May GOD bless you, keep you and make you strong.

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I made the mistake of telling Margaret I was not a registered voter while employed by her as her secretary. Not only did I have to register to vote but I drove her around while she used a bull horn to tell the neighborhood to get out and vote. She will be greatly missed. My sympathies, Rabondel Hall

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Margaret, I will miss your ready smile that was so contagious. The sight of you always lifted my heart. We spent alot of time together trying to save the world. It is still here and much better for your presence in it.  Your life is a testimony to actions taken and challenges met. You have been part of the Change for the betterment of us all. You will be dearly missed. Celeste Cooper Bush

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With deepest sympathy, Anthony and Yolanda Jones & Family (Marietta, GA)

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Margaret was sunshine in a dark room. She would smile and light up the room. She was always in a fast walk to her next adventure. She could be kind and gentle but she could also be a fierce opponent as I witnessed with her defending votes in the 2018 recount. I've only known her for the past couple of years but I will greatly miss her. Fly high Margaret!!! Debby Bowersock

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Please accept my sincere expressions of sympathy to the family during this difficult time. May God's promise that we will see our loved ones again comfort and strengthen you. John 5:28,29;6:40 8jMq

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Sincere sympathy expressed to Arlena Lee and family during this difficult time. May the peace of God be with you to sustain and comfort you. Philippians 4:6,7 Deborah Ricks Evans

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May God give you all peace and comfort during this difficult time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Mary(Red)Lee

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My condolences to the Benton & Lee family doing this difficult time. Remember earth has no sorrows that heaven can not heal. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. Jackie & Sarah Lee-Robinson

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A word that comes to mind, when I think about Margaret is DEVOTION. She was devoted to her family and her father’s legacy. She was devoted to her profession and the struggle for equal justice under the law. She was devoted to her community and to inspiring, her fellow citizens, to be active in the community,also. Delores Hogan Johnson

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I will forever cherish your memories in my heart, your childhood friend. Marjorie Harrell

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My prayers are with the family. Attorney Benton will be greatly missed in the Fort Pierce Community. May God strengthen and comfort the family. Peace, Love and God's Blessings to you all Dorina Jenkins-Gaskin.

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"A smile that never goes away", even though your're not here with us. I enjoyed our investment ventures. Barbara G. Moore

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“What an amazing person and what a remarkable life. I feel so blessed that I got to know Margaret.” Lois Smith-Monds

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Although we will be unable to attend the celebration of margaret’s life, our thoughts and prayers are with the Benton family. Len and Joan McClenny

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Margaret, I will miss the sound of your voice, the wisdom in your advice and just being in your presence. The friendship and laughter that we shared. My heart is broken, but I know you would say, alright Rochester, it’s time to move on. I will miss you my friend. Barbara Wilburn Rochester

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