Gladys Martha Bennett

Gladys (Mickey) Hollins Bennett died Sunday, March 19, 2017, in her home in Coloma, MI. She was born in Chicago, IL on August 28, 1917 to Sidney and Della (Green) Mickey. “Glad” accepted Christ as her personal savior at an early age and was baptized at Greater Bethesda Baptist Church in Chicago IL. Her family moved to Robbins, IL where Gladys and her siblings, Dorothy and Sidney Jr., attended grade school.

In 1933, the family moved to South Haven, MI where “Glad” eventually graduated from South Haven High School Public Schools. The family united with Emmanuel Community Church under the leadership of the Rev. Fanning. Her mother-in-law was a founding member of Covert Community Church where Gladys soon became a member. She served there over the years as Sunday school teacher, church clerk, treasurer, trustee and secretary.

She married Harvey Hollins Sr. on January 29, 1937. To this union they had one daughter, Betty Ann, and one son Harvey Jr. The Hollins’ worked hard to make a comfortable home for their family. In 1970, Gladys and Harvey had the opportunity to purchase and operate Lesman’s Grocery on the north side of Kalamazoo, MI until Harvey suffered from a heart attack.

In 1980 she met and married Willmon “Bill” W. Bennett who became the love of her life. In evidence of his true love, Bill took care of Gladys for more than 30 years of her life. Together they traveled the world to such places as South Africa and Hawaii.

She worked in South Haven at Jolly Kids as a seamstress, Love Joy Pulley Company, and also at Whirlpool Corp. in St. Joseph, MI as a computer operator. She loved to travel and spend time with her family. She loved cooking and canning produce from their garden. Of all her attributes, the qualities that helped build such a loving and strong foundation in her family was her appreciation for all life had to offer. She was an incredible strength and influence and blessing to those who had the privilege to know her, and she will be dearly missed.

Gladys is preceded in death by her parents, her sister Dorothy, her first husband Harvey Sr. (Jan. 3, 1975), her brother Sidney Mickey Jr., and her daughter Betty (Jan. 2, 2010). 

She leaves to honor and cherish her loving memory, her husband Willmon, her one and only son Harvey Hollins Jr. (June) Las Vegas, NV; Bill’s four children that she loved like her own: Renee Wright (George), of South Haven, MI; Sharon L. Bennett of Allen, TX; Mia S. Bennett of Oak Park, MI; and Michael Bennett of Avondale, AZ; two granddaughters: Dorothy Cooper (John) of San Bernardino, CA; Jaime Hollingsworth (Tory) of Las Vegas, NV; five grandsons: Marcus A. Crockett of Miami, FL; the Rev. Harvey Hollins III of Belleville, MI; Sean M. Hollins (Sonya) Kalamazoo, MI; Chad A. Hollins, Las Vegas, NV; George Wright III, Oak Park, IL.; thirteen great grand children, and three great-great grandchildren; two nieces: Patricia Collier of Broken Arrow, OK; and Cynthia Rowan (Rev. Steven) of Richmond Heights, OH, and several great nieces and nephews.