Esther Lorene Denham, 86, of Benton went home to be with the Lord at 12:36 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, 2010, from the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25, at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Joe Zbinden and the Rev. Roger Moore officiating. Burial will be in the Liberty-Ridlen Cemetery in Macedonia. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
She was born in Benton on Nov. 26, 1923, the daughter of Arthur and Jennie (Wyant) Smith.
She married Ira Jay Denham on Sept. 14, 1944, and he preceded her in death on July 26, 1983.
Mrs. Denham was a member of the North Benton Baptist Church.
She is survived by her three sons, James Denham and wife Nancy of West Frankfort, Dennis Denham and wife Nola of West Frankfort, and Gordon Denham and wife Paula of Carterville; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Denham was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, John Arthur Denham; two brothers, James Smith and Harry Edward Smith; a sister Ella Mae Smith; a half-sister, Myrtle Miller; and a half-brother, Roscoe Smith.
