Mother Nellie Ruth Smith a native of Tampa, Florida was born on April 10, 1945. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. Eddie Benton, Sr. and Mrs. Nellie Benton, a sister, Mrs. Annie Lee Whigham, brother, Mr. Eddie Benton, Jr., uncle, Mr. Matthew Igles, aunt, Ms. Bessie Gray and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie and Annie Lee. Mother Nellie Ruth Smith was a pianist for several churches and sang in the Gospel Faith Increasers, under Rev. Milton Biggham and other choirs in the Tampa Bay area. She attended the schools of Hillsborough County and was employed as a Security Guard for several libraries in the Tampa Bay area. She leaves to cherish her memory: 3 sons, Alphonso (Theresa) Adams of Satellite Beach, FL, Keith (Tonya) Mitchell and Garrick G. Mitchell; 1 daughter, Sherell (Alton, Sr.) Shedrick; 3 brothers, Calvin Atkins, Manuel Benton "Too Smooth" and Thomas Benton, Sr., and 1 sister, Linda McIntyre, all of Tampa; special friends, Katina McClinton and Cheryl Dukes of Tampa; 15 grandchildren, Timothy Adams, Cambridge, MA, Kari (Ray) Rodriguez, Orlando, FL, Anna Ryan, Merritt Island, FL, Katie Ryan, Satellite Beach, FL, Shayna Mora, Keith Madison, Ashley Mitchell, Gitara Mitchell, Alton Shedrick, Jr., and Kandace Shedrick, all of Tampa; great grandchildren, Christopher Lee, Jr., Josiah Lee and Cameron Robinson, all of Tampa; nephews, Jason McIntyre, Michael Branker, Ernest D. Burns, Kevin G. Hodge, Thomas Benton, Jr., Jeremiah Benton, Julius Whigman, III, all of Tampa and Leon Alexander of Bronx, NY; nieces, Jessica McIntyre, Maneisha Benton, Miyana Benton, Betty (Melvin) Davis, Patricia (Willie) Williams, Gail (Kevin) Gued, Marion (Andre) Mitchell and Barbara Whigham, all of Tampa; and a host of other family and friends.