Mattie Elaine Benton

Mattie “Elaine” Benton, a beloved mother, sister, aunt, and cherished friend, passed away on Saturday, August 8, 2026, following a brief illness.
Born on November 28, 1949, in Harlingen, Texas, Elaine will be remembered for her love, kindness, strength, and the many lives she touched.
She was the firstborn child of Levi Jesse Benton, Jr. and Constance Shirley Turner Benton, who both preceded her in death.

Elaine graduated from Harlingen High School in Harlingen, Texas. After attending Texas Southern University in Houston for a semester, she returned to the Rio Grande Valley to study education and music at Pan American University (now UT RGV) in Edinburg, where she was inducted into the educational honor society Kappa Delta Pi.
Following graduation, Elaine taught elementary school in Brownsville, Texas, before joining the Austin Independent School District. She served at a number of schools as a teacher and ultimately as an assistant principal and principal, including Spicewood Springs Elementary School, Odom Elementary School, Pecan Springs Elementary, Blanton Elementary School, Bedichek Middle School, and LBJ High School.

A lifelong learner, passionate educator, and fluent Spanish speaker, Elaine also spent summers teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) to Spanish-speaking parents and tutoring her students. She deeply believed that education was the great equalizer—that it could open doors of opportunity and lead to bright futures, especially for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Elaine was an active member of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc., Delta Beta Chapter, a professional organization for educators. After retiring from education, she remained active in her community through the South Austin Senior Activity Center, taking trips with the Red Hat Ladies and volunteering for various causes.

Elaine leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Natalie; her siblings, Kenneth, Levi (Janis), Carolyn, and Mary; her nephew, Jared; her niece, Eliot; and many extended family members and friends.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers Chester, Roger, and Bobby; her half-sister, Sandra; and her first husband, Charles Jackson.
Elaine will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever in our hearts. Our family will never be the same, and her presence will be especially missed during Thanksgiving gatherings, when we often celebrate her birthday.

Elaine was a faithful Christian and attended Wesley United Methodist Church in Austin, where she was also an active volunteer. While we mourn her passing, we find comfort in knowing that she is now resting in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Details on the Celebration of Life for Elaine are pending. King-Tears Mortuary in Austin is handling the arrangements.

The public is invited to join in celebrating Mattie's remarkable life on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 4:00 pm CDT at Alice Taylor King Chapel, 1300 East 12th Street, Austin, Texas, 78702, and on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 10:00 am CDT at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1164 San Bernard Street, Austin, Texas, 78702. The funeral service will take place on the same day at 11:00 am CDT at Wesley United Methodist Church.

In the words of Mattie's favorite poet, Maya Angelou, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Mattie's profound impact on her community and her enduring legacy of love and learning will never be forgotten. We invite you to share your memories of Mattie and upload photos to her memorial page, as we remember a life truly well-lived.