Mrs. Lee (Ellenberg) Bentley

Lee Ellenberg Bentley, 93, wife of the late William P. Bentley, entered into rest on May 3,2025 after a long and beautiful life. Lee was born in Greenwood County, SC on January 10, 1932. She married William Bentley on June 28, 1952 and moved to Lincolnton, GA, where she and William raised their three daughters.

Lee grew up in Troy, SC and graduated from Greenwood High School in Greenwood SC. After graduation she began working at Matthews Mill in Greenwood where she met William on the mill bus. Lee then worked at Milliken in McCormick, SC, and Oxford in Lincolnton, GA. She loved Jesus and faithfully served Him at Salem Baptist Church where she was a member. She served in the nursery, worked with GA's and VBS and taught Sunday School. She was a very caring and compassionate woman who enjoyed preparing food for others when there was a need. She also loved assisting elderly women with their hair. Lee had a gift for gardening, growing beautiful flowers, sewing making clothes and doing alterations.  She especially loved her family.

For many years, she was a contributor for the Lincoln Journal writing the Leathersville News and serving as a poll worker in her community during elections. She was a breast cancer survivor and always walked in the Relay for Life events.

Lee was a faithful prayer warrior and prayed every evening for family and friends calling each person by name. After William's death she spent all of her time with her daughters and their families. She enjoyed making new friends, especially with her new church family in Waynesboro where she was active in all church functions until recently. Although she lived a distance away from Lincolnton in recent years, she still attended Salem Baptist Church at least once a month.

Lee enjoyed attending events for her grandchildren and great grandchildren who lovingly called her Nana. Nana will be greatly missed and will always remain in the hearts of all who knew her. Her love for her family was profound and unwavering, and it is this love that will continue in the legacy that she leaves behind in her family which includes her daughters, Anne Wright (Al), Elaine Timmerman and Lisa Mahaffey (Chuck). Six grandchildren, Haley Dumpe (Jarrod), Ryan Timmerman (Maria), Jonathan Wright (Brandi), Erin Cooper (Derek), Jordan Cliatt (Chris) and Ethan Mahaffey. eight great grandchildren: Grayson Dumpe, Reese Dumpe, Noah Dumpe, Olivia Cooper, Bentley Wright, Emily Cooper, Campbell Cliatt, and Taylor Wright and a sister, Brenda Bowick. Lee was preceded in death by her husband, William Bentley and her son in law Raymond Timmerman, her brother Tom Ellenberg, sisters, Dollie Smalley and Jane Young, and parents Moss and Mae Ellenberg.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 5, 2025 11 am at Salem Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5pm until 7pm Sunday evening at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Salem Baptist Church, c/o June Cox, 2476 Leathersville Rd., Lincolnton, Ga 30817 and the American Cancer Society.

Beggs Funeral Home, Lincolnton is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Lee Ellenberg Bentley.