Iva Benefield East

Iva East, 75, died peacefully on Tuesday morning, June 4th at The Pearl at Dallas in Dallas, Georgia.

A native of Polk County, she was born on January 3rd 1944. She was the daughter of the late Rev. J.T. Howard and Maggie Lee Howard. She had been a lifetime resident of Polk County until moving to Dallas, Georgia in 2017.

She was a member of Bellview Baptist Church, Rockmart, Georgia. She served in the ministry for many years. She sang and played the piano for many congregations. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend to many who knew her. She was a talented baker, cook and wedding caterer.

Survivors include her children; son Barry W. Benefield, Robertsdale, AL.; daughter Malissa B. Carney, Cedartown, GA; daughter Tammy B. Nichols, Dallas, GA; son Edward A. Benefield, Cedartown, GA.; two brothers David Lee Howard, Douglasville, GA; Timothy Wayne Howard, Cedartown, GA. ; 10 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Collard Valley Baptist Church with Rev. Robert Wright and Rev. Eddie Benefield officiating. Mrs. East will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in Polk Memory Gardens.

Pallbearers will include Seth Benefield, Will Benefield, Joseph Hosmer, Zackery Howard, John Benefield and Chris Nichols. The Honorary Pallbearer will be Tillman Hosmer.

The family will receive friends Thursday evening June 6, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Smith and Miller Funeral Home.

The Smith & Miller Funeral Home of Cedartown is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Iva Benefield East.

The Bible says:

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed, we shall not be found naked. . . We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:1,2,8).
Jesus said:

Father, I desire that those also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory, which You have given Me because you loved Me before the foundation of the world (John 17:24).