Audrey Kay Collins Benge, MaMaw, 87, of Macon, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024. The family will have a time of visitation on Saturday, November 23, from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at FairHaven Funeral Home. A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, November 24, at 2:00 PM in the chapel of the FairHaven Funeral Home with Reverend, Jim Duggan officiating. Burial will be private with the family at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Benge was born on January 26, 1937, in Byron, Georgia, to the late Mr. George B. Collins, Jr. and Mrs. Janie Eppinger Collins. She graduated from A. L. Miller High School for girls in 1955. One of her most proud academic accomplishments came from winning a spelling bee and a Coca-Cola radio. Kay was a teenager when she started her first job at Woolworth's. She began work with C & S Bank, now, Bank of America and retired from the bank after 45 years. She was first employed in the Proof Department and later Human Resources as a recruiter. In her free time, Mrs. Benge enjoyed cooking, feeding and watching birds, reading, word searches, traveling, volunteering with Hospice and taking Christmas trips with friends. She loved sending cards to loved ones for no reason other than to say, "Love MaMaw." Above all else, she loved spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was cherished by all for her selfless acts of love for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and so many others.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Benge was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Joseph Norman Benge, Sr. and brother, Michael Eugene Collins.
Left to cherish Mrs. Benge's memory are her two children, Joseph Benge, Jr. and Tammy Obenauf (Neil); grandchildren, Jason Benge, Leanna Gilpin (Colby), Jonathan Obenauf (Caterina) and Benjamin Obenauf; great-grandchildren, Alivia Campbell and McKenna Kay Benge; brothers, George Branan Collins, III (Judy) and Joseph Phillip Collins (Kathy); several nieces and nephews.
Donations can be made to Alzheimer's Association and Tunnel to Towers.
Friends may sign the online registry at www.fairhavenmacon.com.
FairHaven Funeral Home and Cremation Services has the honor of being entrusted with arrangements.