Julia Capers Bentley Arner
Julia Capers Bentley Arner, 92, of Starkville, MS, went home to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Julia was born on November 19, 1923 in Brantley, Alabama to the late Thomas Howell Bentley and Florence Floyd Bentley. She was preceded in death by her sister, Betty.
Julia graduated as Valedictorian of Brantley High School and graduated from Huntingdon College with a teaching degree. She later got her MEd from Mississippi State. She taught at Brantley High School during World War II. When her cherished fiance, Dale Howard Arner came home from the war, they were married in Brantley, Alabama on December 23, 1945 and loved each other for 70 years.
Julia was a much beloved teacher for almost 40 years. She taught in Maryland; Auburn, Alabama, where the school annual was dedicated to her. She taught for several years in Selma, Alabama before coming to MSU as an English teacher. Her years at MSU were some of the happiest of her life; She has maintained relationships with some of her students for almost 50 years.
She was an active and loyal member of First United Methodist Church and Trinity Presbyterian Church. She taught Sunday school often and was a member and officer in the women’s circles of both churches.
Julia is survived by her daughter, Jennie Beedle and her husband Barry of Burlington, NC; and her two grandsons, Jon Beedle of Hattiesburg, MS and Jeff Beedle of Charlotte, NC. During the last two years ofher life, she was blessed to have wonderful sisters as caretakers, Ethel McCoy, Jean Hunter, Elizabeth Doss, Maxine Fields, and Mildred Lee. Julia’s family will always be grateful for their loving care.
Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, October 7, 2016 at 2:00p.m. at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Starkville, MS, with the visitation following the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Burial will be in Memorial Garden Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dale and Julia Amer Scholarship, Endowed Fund in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture. Please send any donations to: The College of Forest Resources, Attn: Jeff Little, P. O. Box 9680, Miss. State, MS 39762.