Myra was the fifth of eight children born to William David and Amy Lillian (Moose) Benfield. She married Mack Little Kerley in 1930 and they had two children: Benny Mack and Frances Maxine.

Obituary

Taylorsville Times – Stony Point, Alexander County
July 16, 2004

Myra Naomia Benfield Kerley, age 90, of N.C. Hwy. 90 East, Stony Point, died Saturday, July 10, 2004, at Iredell Memorial Hospital in Statesville following several years of declining health and a serious illness of two weeks. She was born in Alexander County November 19, 1913, the daughter of the late William David Benfield and Amy Lillian Moose Benfield. She was married June 9, 1930, to Mack L. Kerley, with whom she shared sixty-two years of marriage before his death on March 28, 1994. Mrs. Kerley was a homemaker and a member of Hiddenite Baptist Church, where she was involved in many activities, including Sunday school and youth programs, among others. She was also a member of the Eastern Star Chapter 58 in Stony Point, the Sunshine Club, Home Extension Club, and Friends of the Hiddenite Center as well as being an artist and seamstress. In addition to her parents, and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Christine Benfield Cashion, four brothers, William Howard Benfield, Robert Edward Benfield, Milas Ray Benfield, and an infant brother, Ernest Benfield. Survivors include a son, Benny Kerley and wife Dorothy of Hiddenite; a daughter, Frances Fickling and husband Dwight of Greensboro; one sister, Mary Benfield Black of Lusby, Md.; a brother, Noel D. Benfield and wife Retta of Stony Point; three sisters-in-law, Nell H. Benfield of Scottsville, Va., Eleanor (Judy) C. Benfield of Stony Point, and Hazel Winkler Kerley of Statesville; four grandchildren, Amy Fickling, Timothy Fickling and wife Susan, Wesley Kerley and wife Sharon, and Jon Kerley and wife Banet; three step-grandchildren, Kim Stephens and husband Dennis, Sharon Watson, and Donald Watson; seven great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren. Funeral services were conducted Monday, July 12, 2004, at Hiddenite Baptist Church with Rev. Scott Huffman, Rev. Horace Moree, and Rev. Ruel Fox officiating. Burial followed in the Hiddenite Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Hiddenite Baptist Church Debt Retirement Fund (Principal Only), P.O. Box 38, Hiddenite, NC 28636, to the Fairview Baptist Church Gideon's Bible Fund, c/o J.C. Bruce, 488 Berea Church Quincy Rd., Hiddenite, NC 28636, or to the church or charity of the donor's choice. Adams Funeral Home of Taylorsville was in charge of arrangements