Hilda Celeste Bennett

Hilda Celeste Bennett, age 82, passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2013 in the presence of her family.
In 1930, she was born to G.T. and Pat Brogdon in Bay Springs, MS. She grew up in the Dedeaux Community of Hancock County and attended Dedeaux High School where she played guard for the girls' basketball team and was voted ""Girl Flirt"" and ""Prettiest Girl"". She spent most of her life on the coast and worked as a seamstress. Hilda was a loving and caring mother who devoted herself to her children, ensuring their needs were met before her own. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, just playing games or sewing for them. She also spent a lot of time outdoors working in her small garden or just mowing the lawn, which she insisted on doing herself. She was an independent person who lived alone, but was never really alone; friends and family were always visiting or spending the night, especially her grandchildren who adored her. Hilda or ""Gig"", as she was called by her brother and sisters, enjoyed crocheting, dancing, bream fishing and working jigsaw puzzles. She also had a passion for county and gospel music, George Jones being her favorite. Hilda was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Saucier where she had many friends and looked forward to attending Sunday school class each week.
Hilda was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Laverne Brogdon, her husband Thomas Bennett, two sons, Joe Douglas Spiers and E.J. ""Chunky"" Spiers, Jr. and grandson Douglas West. She is survived by her sisters, Helen (T.N.) Ladner, Bobbie Bowman, Nell Koenenn, and brother Bud (Mary Beth) Brogdon; sons, Bennie (Debra) Spiers, Mike Spiers, Greg (Bridgett) Spiers, and Dale Bennett; daughters, Rita (Wayne) Ladner, Marilyn (Wayne) Stone and Brenda Bennett; grandchildren, Carlie Webb, Jolie Spiers, Brande Albritton, Jason Ladner, Andrea Ritter, Tiffany Barnett, Amber Spiers, Lee Spiers, Joanna Schavrien, and Robin Stone, and nineteen great- grandchildren.
Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, August 20, 2013 from 5pm - 7pm at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport, MS. There will be a funeral service on August 21, 2013 in the funeral home chapel at 10am. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport. An online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com.