Eloise Dell Behel Valentine, age 88, of Florence, passed away June 5, 2019, at her residence.  The family will receive friends on Saturday, June 8, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Mount Zion Church of Christ.  The service will follow at 1:00 p.m. with Sonny Owens, Robert Huffaker and Todd Johnston officiating.  Burial will be in the Mount Zion Cemetery.

Mrs. Valentine leaves behind her loving family:  husband of 68 years, Loyd Valentine; daughter, Joyce (Scott) Brawley; grandchildren, Bradley Valentine, Chris (Leslie) Valentine, Amber (Seth) Thompson and Blake (Talea) Ray; great-grandchildren, Madison, Brayley, Bentley and Adalynn Valentine, Sydney and Carter Thompson, and Hadley Ray; daughter-in-law, Alma Valentine; and sister, Mary Lou Parker.

Preceding her in death were her beloved son, David Lee Valentine; parents, Lucinda and Charlie Behel; brothers, James, Harry Benton, McKinley and Cletus Behel; sisters, Rubye Haygood, Eurma Thompson, Earline Balentine, Oveta Kimbrough, LeVora Ann Behel and Shirley Behel.

Mrs. Valentine was a member of Mt. Zion Church of Christ and a firm believer of following the Word of God.  She possessed a “servant’s mentality” taking food to the sick and furnishing turnip greens to the community.  Eloise, ever the hard worker, spent her time as a devoted housewife—raising the children, gardening, canning, freezing, tending to her sick brother and mother, and loving her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will include Ricky Hudson, Blake Ray, Jeff Stutts, Seth Thompson, Bradley Valentine and Chris Valentine.  Honorary pallbearers will be Carter Thompson, Easton Davis and Bentley Valentine.

The family would like to thank Southern Care Beacon staff for their care and support and a special thank you to Carrie and Tammy.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the cemetery fund at Mount Zion Church of Christ.