Mrs. Sarah Bennett celebrates 101st birthday

JANS – Mrs. Sarah Bennett celebrated her 101st birthday a day early on November 1, 2025, at her home in Madison, MS with her family and friends. All 10 of her children were in attendance. Mrs. Bennett, who gives the glory and honor to God for blessing her to enjoy such a rich legacy, was also recognized by the Madison County Board of Supervisors and City of Gluckstadt.

Sarah Bell Hart-Bennett was born on November 2, 1924, in Madison County, MS. Her mother was Lela Williams and her father Jake Hart. When Sarah was a child, her mother was married to Earnest Clark. She is eldest of her mother’s children: Lee Earnest “Noote” Clark-Tyler, Decell “Nanny” Clark, and Bessie Lee “Queen” Clark-Garner. 

She attended a one-room schoolhouse called Auburndale School until the 8th grade. She then attended the Madison County Training School located in a little area of Madison called “Tin Top” until the 11th grade. She walked 4 miles every day from her home on Stribling Road to school. She has always worked “in the field”, before and after school. 

While farming with her parents, she met Jessie Bennett. Her step-dad, Harry Tyler, told her that Jessie “would make her a good husband.”  Harry’s dying wish was for her to marry Jessie. They were married in October 1943.  They were sharecroppers until purchasing their own land in the 1940s. They birthed and raised 10 children. This is the property that Sarah still owns and lives on today.  

Sarah instilled the importance of God and education to her children and family. She and Jessie made sure all of their children graduated from high school and went on to attend college. She was an integral part of the integration of Madison Schools. She wanted her children to have equal and the best opportunities as any child. In order to make this possible, she registered their driveway as a designated Madison County School bus stop. Even today, this is still in effect. 

Mrs. Bennett has 18 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.

Mrs. Bennett takes pride in participating in the democratic process by exercising her right to vote. She has faithfully voted in every election since the Civil Rights Act of 1964, allowing African Americans the right to vote.

Sarah states, “Church was my focus and my all in all.” She was a member of Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church in Gluckstadt, MS. In 1983, she joined Liberal Trinity Church of God in Christ in Jackson, MS. She has been a member there for 41 years. She has been a dedicated Mother of the church and serves as the President of Prayer and Bible Band and has done so for 24 years. The most important aspect she has learned in life is to “Put God first in everything and do right. Ask God to direct your paths. Treat people with love and kindness.” When asked about the biggest change she has seen in her life, she responded with a song. Sarah Bennett sings, “Since Jesus came into my life, since Jesus came into my heart, what a wonderful change in my heart. Hallelujah.”