Gladys Bender

Gladys Louise Thomas Bender was born to the late Samuel and Cornelia Thomas on January 2, 1923. She went home to be with the Lord on November 13, 2020.

Gladys pledged her allegiance to the Savior in 1933 at the Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Reverend William A. Anderson. She was baptized in 1934. She was educated in the Davidson County School system, attending Meigs School, and graduating from Pearl Senior High School in 1941.


Gladys worked as a housekeeper and nanny for Mony and Mae Lusky for several years. She later began working for Dick and Jane Eskind in the same capacity which began a special relationship that would last more than sixty years.


On December 4, 1944, she was united in holy matrimony to the late James B. Bender, a union that was blessed to welcome one loving son, James.


She was a faithful and ardent member of Payne Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church under the pastorate of Reverend W. Antoni Sinkfield. Gladys was a dedicated member of the choir and loved singing praises to the Heavenly Father. She also served as a member of the Trustee Board and many other ministries in the church until her health began to decline. Gladys always lived life the fullest, she especially enjoyed fellowshipping with her church family, creating ceramics and crafts, and talking and dining out with family and friends. It can be honestly said, that Gladys was an honest, loving, thoughtful and fair person to everyone she encountered. She has fought a good fight, she kept the faith, and she has earned her wings, now she is resting, sleeping in the arms of Jesus.


Preceded in death by her beloved husband, James Benton Bender, granddaughter, Crystal bender, brothers, Louis Williams, and Samuel Thomas, Jr., and her nephew, Roderick Thomas. Those left to cherish her beloved memory are, beloved her son, James D. (Elaine) Bender, beloved granddaughter, Lauren Bender, loving niece, Karen (James) Thomas Ray, loving nephew, Rodney (Sandra) Thomas, loving cousins, Cora Turnley, Dianne Whitfield, dear goddaughter, Martha Young, Sarah Taylor, beloved and special friends, Billy Eskind, and Ellen Eskind Lehman; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Zoom meeting.

Topic: Mrs. Gladys L. Bender
Time: Nov 17, 2020 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

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Meeting ID: 692 999 1888
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Meeting ID: 692 999 1888