Services Set for Retired Brandon Teacher With Country Singing Roots

Glenna Jane Sizemore Bennett, 74, of Brandon, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Hospice House in Sun City.

She was born to the late Gordon and Berndena Sizemore on March 27, 1938 in Louisville, Kentucky. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Maynor Bennett Roberts; her husband, Guy Arnold Bennett Jr.; and two sons, Robert Alan Bennett and Guy Arnold Bennett III.

Glenna is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Bennett Stewart, a music teacher at Riverview High School, and her son-in-law, Robert Warren Stewart, a Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office deputy. Also, her son and daughter- in- law, Charles Clifford Bennett and Lori Millen Bennett as well as daughter-in-law Amy Teddar Bennett.

Glenna has two sisters: Betty Sizemore Fallis and Peggy Sizemore Landress. Her nieces are Jane Ann Powell, Mary Beth Fallis, Barbara Susan Fallis as well as nephews, Charles Steven Fallis and John Thomas Landress.

Lastly, she also has five grandchildren: Christian Robert Stewart, Thomas Gordon Bennett, Daniel Charles Bennett, Katie Beth Bennett and Jacob Curtis Bennett.

In the early years of her life, Glenna, “Little Doc”, as she was known, enjoyed a long singing career on country and gospel radio with her father Gordon Sizemore and sister, Betty.

Glenna attended Salvisa High School in 1955, before attending Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky (1958) where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education and later earned her Master’s degree in English from Rollins College in 1967.

She was an elementary teacher for 36 years in Covington, Kentucky; Miami, Florida for Dade County Schools and finally Hillsborough County Schools, where she taught at Brooker, Kingwood, Trapnell and Kenly Elementary. She retired from Hillsborough County Schools in 1991.

She was a long-time member of the First Baptist Church of Brandon, where she enjoyed volunteering with the adult special-needs classes and singing in the senior choir.

Helping family and friends were Glenna’s passion and delight. She was always known to be a woman of compassion for a friend in need; she often transported cancer patients to and from treatments after her retirement. Her grandchildren were the great joy of her life. She spent many hours supporting them in their music, drama productions, wrestling tournaments, swim meets and baseball games and was delighted to be included in their lives.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, February 6, 2013 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Serenity Meadows Funeral Home. The funeral service will be on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 11:00 am at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to LifePath Hospice.