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GRAHAM - BENNETT
August 30, 2003
Flowers blossomed into romance for couple 60 years ago
When Cleo Graham woke up after surgery to remove her appendix, a beautiful arrangement of gladiolus was waiting on her beside table at Wallace Thomson Hospital. According to the card, they were from Austin Bennett, a boy she knew in the West Springs Community. He went to her church and they had been baptized together. She hadn't known until then that Austin might be a little sweet on her.
When I got out of the hospital we started going together and there wasn't anybody else, said Cleo, now Cleo Graham Bennett. We couldn't stay apart, Austin said. We fell in love and we're still in love more than ever, Cleo said. That flower arrangement helped kindle a long-lasting love. The Bennetts recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. I tell him often that bouquet of flowers got him in a lot of trouble, Cleo said with a laugh.
Cleo, 77, was the oldest of three children of Orin and Clara Belle Graham. Austin, 79, was one of five children of Sterling and Lunette Bennett. The Bennetts were friends before they started dating and both were baptized the same day by the Rev. Cullen Crook in the pool at West Springs Baptist Church. After Austin sent the flowers, the two became better acquainted and each found traits about the other that were very appealing. He was just a fine Christian gentleman, Cleo said. I like her sweet disposition and personality and her sense of humor, Austin said.
The two began courting, but dating in Union County during World War II was a lot different than it is now. Rationed gas was scarce, but if a couple did have fuel for the car and a little extra money, Fincher's Barbecue and the Welcome Grill were two good places to go. The Welcome Grill I remember the onion rings, Cleo said. They had the best onion rings of anybody.
The couple got married on Aug. 14, 1943, in Converse at the home of their pastor, the Rev. Boyce Coats. They rented a two-room apartment in West Springs. Everybody called it Honeymoon Hill, because everybody who got married went there, Cleo said. Both went to work in textiles, but when Austin was 31 he felt called into the ministry. He started college at North Greenville and later completed his education at Wofford.
Throughout his college years, he kept his second shift job at the mill. He studied after he got off work at 11 p.m. and then many times had to be back at school at 8 the next morning. He'd get home, grab a bite to eat and change clothes and we'd get on our way, Cleo said. Austin's first pastorate was at Bethesda Baptist in Whitmire.
He preached there for 23 years. He retired, was off one Sunday and then was asked to preach at Beulah Baptist. He has been preaching there for the past 11 years. Some of the sweetest, dearest people in the world are at both of those churches, Cleo said. The couple has two sons, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Their sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Linda Bennett and Lynn and Brenda Bennett, honored them with a surprise celebration Aug. 15 at West Springs Baptist. The Bennett boys originally told their parents they intended to take them out for a nice supper. As the car headed toward West Springs, the Bennetts were suspicious, but asked no questions. When they got to the church, there were no cars in the parking lot Ñ all of the guests had parked them on the other side of the church to add to the surprise.
The Bennetts found inside around 25 of their family members and a meal of country fried steak, fried chicken and vegetables catered by Midway Barbecue. All of our families from both sides were there and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Cleo said. The congregation at Beulah Baptist also gave them a gift of money to use for an anniversary meal, which they enjoyed at Ryan's in Gaffney.
The Bennetts said they rely on God and his word for guidance and they think that is the main reason they have had a strong and happy marriage. When I counsel with couples the first thing I tell them is they need to be able to communicate with each other and talk things out, Austin said. And they need to be in the same church together and worship the Lord together. There's a tie there that brings you together. Also, you need to tell your mate that you love them many times every day.
Cleo said couples need to have God in their lives. We could have never made it without the Lord, she said. He has helped us through many hardships and difficulties in life with his guiding hand. We've just had a wonderful life.
By ANNA BROWN
