OBITUARIES

Deborah Benning

Deborah Lee Benning of Yellow Springs died Nov. 24, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her family. She was 62.

Deborah was born Sep. 12, 1947. She was a fixture in the community and an active participant in a number of civic activities. She was clerk for the Yellow Springs Council for 17 years. Deborah’s tenure at the Village completes 200 years of service by the Benning family, who first arrived in Yellow Springs in 1864.

Deborah loved to laugh, watch football, plan events for her family, and travel. She was one of four children born to the late Etta Belle Harris and Chester Benning and was the beloved mother of Cheryl Williams of Chandler, Ariz. and Asara Martin of Dayton. Deborah will forever be remembered by her loving siblings, Gail Ballard of Dayton, Peter Benning of Toledo, Byron Benning and Faith Murphy Knight, both of Atlanta, Ga.; treasured grandchildren Noah Watkins and Jacob Allen of Chandler, Ariz.; along with one great-grandchild, Arla Watkins, long-time partner Ron Robinson and daughter Ashanta Robinson of Yellow Springs.

Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m., at Bryan Community Center at 100 Dayton Street. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Deborah’s name to the American Cancer Society and/or the American Porphyria Foundation.

William Michael Traylor

William Michael Traylor died Sunday, Nov. 22. He was 26 years of age.

Born at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, he was the eldest son of Latondra Traylor and William Milton Clay. He was the first grandchild in his family to graduate with a bachelors degree, which he received in May from Central State University, magna cum laude. He graduated from Springfield High School and attended Lincoln Elementary.

William Michael Traylor is survived by his maternal grandparents, Theodore (Barbara) Traylor and Queen Victoria Traylor, and paternal grandparents, Ophelia Payne and Claude Clay; sister Ashley N. Kiser (Brendan); brothers Rubbeenie Stephens III and Cadean Clay; nephew and niece Richard and Ashlynn; aunts Debra, Angela, Jerl, Lucreita, Ann, Eva, LaChria and Sophia; and uncles Theodore James III, Thaddeus Traylor James, Willie, Basil, Tony and Claude. He is also survived by cousins Tisa, Sean, JP, Deanna, Montana, Claude Jr., Christopher, Ray and Tejaland; godmother Shonda Sneed of Yellow Springs; friend Ashely Wells and many others. He was preceded in death by his uncle Michael.

Visitation and funeral service were held Saturday, Nov. 28, at El Bethel Temple with Pastor Mark Tyler officiating.