Retta Ruth Sharpe Benfield of Stony Point planted her last garden and caught her last fish on Monday, October 19, 2020. After 102 well-lived years, she moved peacefully on to be reunited with her husband, Noel, and her Sharpe family. She will be remembered not only for her crocheting, quilting, pound cake, and biscuits, but also for her wit, resilience, and humorous antics. She was educated at Sidelight School and then graduated from Stony Point High School. She was an accomplished gardener, cook, and fisherman, but she took great pride in taking care of her family.

Retta was born Saturday, February 9, 1918, to the late Alfred Nelson Sharpe and Mary Head Sharpe in Alexander County. She married Noel Denton Benfield Sr. on December 28, 1940, and together they had three children, Nadine Benfield Chapman and husband Gene of Stony Point, Noel Denton Benfield Jr. and wife Jackie of Gastonia, and Alyce Benfield Joines of Greensboro. She was also the proud Mamaw of grandchildren, Kevin Chapman, Fonda Chapman Adams (Dale), Deanna Chapman Hissim (Dale), Andrew Chapman, Ashleigh Benfield Whitchurch (Dale), and Noel Denton Benfield III, along with great grandchildren, Jared Adams, Logan Adams, Patrick Hissim, Illyana Chapman, Amaryna Chapman, and Riley Whitchurch.

In addition to her husband and parents, Retta was preceded in death by brothers, Leonard Sharpe, Maurice Sharpe, Ray Sharpe, Oren Sharpe, and her twin Ronald Sharpe; sisters, Vera Sharpe Mayberry, Ethel Sharpe Meadows, Maie Sharpe Sprinkle, Ruby Sharpe Gant, and Nellie Sharpe Patterson.

A Graveside Service will be conducted at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, at South River United Methodist Church Cemetery. Rev. Lynn Hawkins will officiate. There will be no formal visitation.
The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made to Iredell Hospice, 2347 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625 or South River United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, 2540 Cheatham Ford Rd, Hiddenite, NC 28636. The family would like to thank the wonderful and loving caregivers who gave her assistance and companionship over the last few years.

Chapman Funeral Home is serving the family.