Freddie Mae Singleton Bennett

The siblings of Freddie Mae Singleton Bennett are hosting a memorial service at 12:00 PM Saturday, June 14, 202,5 in the Chapel of Leavitt Funeral Home.

“My Life Journey”

Freddie Mae Singleton was born December 30, 1950, in Florence, SC to Freddie Singleton and Eva Solomon. She passed away after a week’s hospitalization (May 18-24) at Atrium Health Pineville in Charlotte, NC. Freddie Mae was preceded in death by her husband Albert Paul Bennett, Sr. (2020); her brother Freddie Singleton, Jr. (2018); her father Freddie Singleton, Sr. (2015); her mother Eva Solomon Singleton (2013); and her stepmother Ada Ford Singleton (1998). Her stepbrother Charles H. Ford, Sr. died several days after Freddie Mae (May 27, 2025).

“Family & Faith”

Freddie Mae was the second born of six children. When the family moved to Wadesboro, she accepted Jesus as Savior around the age of 10 at Barnes Chapel Holiness Church which was located on Highway 52. Later she attended First Baptist Church on Ballard Street in Wadesboro and participated in every activity for young people – Sunday School, choir, usher board, vacation Bible school. She remained a member of First Baptist until she married and joined Thomas Chapel A.M.E. Zion in Lilesville where she was a faithful member until her death.

Freddie Mae married Albert Paul Bennett in 1972, and they were married for almost 48 years. Two children were born to this union, Latrice and Albert, Jr. Freddie Mae and Albert became the proud grandparents of Jasmine Bennett; Cassandra, Savannah, Albert Paul, III, and Albertina Bennett and Dytrel Miller.

After a half-century of Christian education and life experience, Freddie Mae knew who she was in Christ and did not need man to affirm her. Her life journey reflected patience (Job), wisdom (Solomon), faith (Paul), and humility (Timothy). She believed and lived Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”

“Employment”

Freddie Mae was employed at Anson Shirt Factory as a seamstress for over 30 years. While working at the factory she got a part-time job at the county jail but decided she could not work in the environment. After leaving Anson Shirt Factory she worked part-time at Kentucky Fried Chicken for many years. Her family enjoyed the hot chicken and biscuits she brought home when she worked the night shift.

“Education & Discrimination Lawsuit”

Freddie Mae’s elementary education was at JR Faison School, the only school in Wadesboro for Black students, grades 1-12. However Anson County operated three schools in Wadesboro for white students - elementary, middle, and high school. The continued operation of segregated schools was in violation of the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision.

During the 1966-67 school year a “freedom of choice” option was given to parents to enroll their children in the County’s white schools. Freddie Mae was enrolled in Anson Junior High School, the former school for White middle school students. The “freedom of choice” option did not fully integrate all the County’s schools. Therefore, the NAACP sued Anson County Schools in July 1967. Freddie Mae was the “lead plaintiff” on the lawsuit; she represented all Black students in the County. As a result of the lawsuit all students in the 11th and 12th grades were assigned to a newly designated high school, Bowman High School. Freddie Mae graduated from Bowman in 1969. Her class was the second to graduate from the County’s newly consolidated senior high school.

Freddie Mae attended Anson Technical College and graduated with an associate degree in computer science. The training prepared her for a decade-long volunteer endeavor with the Friends of Old Westview Cemetery, Inc. nonprofit, and equipped her to become a “DIY” genealogist for her family’s history. Freddie Mae’s mind was a databank of Old Westview decedents names, dates and histories!

“Civil Rights”

Freddie Mae was actively involved in the civil rights struggle in Anson County. Under the leadership of her stepmother Ada Ford Singleton, president of the Anson County NAACP, Freddie Mae and her older siblings participated in voting registration campaigns, protests against discrimination in public accommodations, and efforts to advance equal education in the school system. Once the adult and youth members of the NAACP counter-marched against the Ku Klux Klan.

When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, Anson County Black residents were devastated over his death as other Blacks across the country. The NAACP rented a bus to travel to Atlanta, Georgia for Dr. King’s funeral on April 9, 1968. Freddie Mae and her sister Mary were fortunate to get into the church and view Dr. King’s body!

The assassination of Dr. King disrupted the education of Black students in the County at both the junior and senior high school. The students requested their principals to lower the flag to half-mast to honor Dr. King as had been done when the White superintendent of schools passed away. The request was denied and Black students at both schools walked off their campus. The school board expelled the students, and the NAACP called for a boycott of the school system by all Black students.

Students who attended Dr. King’s funeral returned home motivated to see changes made in the County. But the school year was near its end and parents were anxious about their children completing school. The school board made an offer to reinstate expelled students if they returned to school. The school boycott was over. The reinstatement offer was not extended to the student leaders of the protest. Freddie Mae’s sister Mary, who was a senior, was one of the students who was denied reinstatement; however Freddie Mae and her brother Freddie, Jr. returned to school. Arrangements were made for Mary to complete her senior year in Charlotte.

“Civic Engagement”

Freddie Mae understood the necessity of Black people uplifting themselves! When she learned that the first burial ground for Wadesboro Black residents needed restoration and that a nonprofit, the Friends of Old Westview Cemetery, Inc. (FOWC), founded in 2002, needed help she willingly agreed to join the effort. She soon became “boots on the ground” for the nonprofit. She began her research by visiting the cemetery and the courthouse regularly. Freddie Mae created the database that enabled FOWC to nominate Old Westview Cemetery for registration on the National Register of Historical Places. Old Westview Cemetery was listed on the Register on April 29, 2015.

“Legacy”

Freddie Mae leaves to mourn her passing her daughter Latrice Bennett Lyons (Antoine) and her son Albert Paul Bennett, Jr. (Mary) and her grandchildren: Jasmine Palmer (Greg) and Marco and Mariah Lyons; Cassandra, Savannah, Albert Paul, III, and Albertina Bennett, and Dytrel Miller (Spartanburg, SC). She has three young great-grandchildren who will hear about her: Camryn, Amriah and Amir Bennett. Freddie Mae’s sister-in-law Cynthia Gail Ratliff and her children, Jada and Jeffrey, will miss her.

Freddie Mae will be dearly missed by her siblings: Mary Craft (Anthony), Evelyn Brown, Joanne Singleton-Price (Ulysses), and Sandra Singleton. Her brother-in-law and friend Thurman Brown (Fayetteville, NC) will miss their frequent talks and laughs. Her nephews and nieces will miss their loving and funny aunt: Frederick Singleton, Antoine Craft (Nikita), and Kevin Craft (Angela); LaSaundra Ibrahim and Felicia Alford; and Ulysses J. Price, Jr. and Nathaniel D. Price. Charles H. Ford, Jr. will miss the step-aunt he had a close relationship with his younger years. And Carol Ford, wife of Charles H. Ford, Sr., will remember her.

Freddie Mae will be remembered by her great-nephews and great-nieces: Nianna, Nyriah, Antoine, Jr. and Nova Craft; Karson and Addison Craft; Alijah Hicks; and Corda Jeeter. Cousins Rebecca D. Jackson and Rachel F. Jacobs (New Jersey) and Dennis Smalls (Florence, SC) will have fond memories of Freddie Mae. Her cousin Isaac Smalls, also of New Jersey, predeceased her.

Mr. Jasper Marshall, an elderly neighbor and long-time friend of her father, will really miss her regular visits. Her church family, friends, workers at businesses she patronized and people on the street will miss Freddie Mae. She was a friendly soul that was taught by her father that “Everybody is Somebody!”

“But the godly shall flourish like palm trees and grow tall as the cedars of Lebanon.

For they are transplanted into the Lord’s own garden and are under his personal care.

Even in old age they will still produce fruit and be vital and green.

This honors the Lord and exhibits his faithful care. He is my shelter. There is nothing but goodness in him!”

Psalm 92:12-15 The Living Bible (TLB)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

God Saw You Getting Tired

God saw you getting tired

And a cure was not to be

So He put His arms around you

And whispered “Come to Me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you

As you slowly slipped away

And though we loved you dearly

We couldn’t make you stay.

Your golden heart stopped beating

Your tired hands put to rest

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

(Credit: Frances & Kathleen Coelho)