Chattanooga Community Mourns the Loss of Melinda Stapleton Benjamin
Chattanooga, TN – The community of Chattanooga is coming together to celebrate the life of Melinda Stapleton Benjamin, an 85-year-old beloved member of the area, who passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. She was a cherished Christian and a proud member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga, where she poured her heart into her faith and her friendships.
Melinda was not just a name in Chattanooga; she was a vibrant presence with an incredible passion for many things. With a keen interest in old movies and antiques, she had a knack for the classic and the timeless. After studying design, she found her calling in interior decorating and art, which allowed her to express her creativity and brightened countless homes with her exquisite taste.
What many will remember fondly about Melinda was her thirst for knowledge. She was especially well-versed in Scottish and English history, and her enthusiasm to share what she knew with others made her a delightful conversationalist. From casual conversations to deeper discussions, her insights were always appreciated, and they enriched the lives of those around her.
Melinda’s creativity did not stop at decoration; she was also the talented mind behind the artwork for her mother’s book, A History of Signal Mountain and According to Memory, a collaborative endeavor with her mother, Helen Carruth Stapleton. The love and respect for history and heritage were evident in her work and in her life.
Sadly, Melinda experienced her share of heartache. She was preceded in death by her parents, Theodore R. Stapleton and Helen Jane Carruth Stapleton, along with her first husband, Thomas V. Kirkland, and her son, Frederick Alexander Kirkland. Step-children, Robert Benjamin and Julie Benjamin, also passed before her, a reminder of the fragility of life.
Despite her losses, Melinda’s spirit lived on in her loving family. She is survived by her husband, James P. Benjamin, along with her son, Thomas S. Kirkland (and his wife, Marie) and step-children, including Kimberly Beck (Gary), Phillip Benjamin, and James Benjamin (Starla). Her legacy continues with numerous cousins, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews who carry her spirit forward.
Community members wishing to pay their respects to Melinda can do so at the funeral service to be held on Monday, October 7. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace, followed by the funeral service at 10:30 a.m. in the Coulter Chapel of the same location. Interment will follow at Chattanooga Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the American Heart Association or the Arthritis Foundation. These organizations were chosen as a fitting tribute to Melinda’s life and the challenges she faced.
This week, friends, family, and the greater Chattanooga community remember a remarkable woman whose love for life shone brightly, leaving a profound impact on all who knew her. Melinda Stapleton Benjamin will be dearly missed but never forgotten, as her legacy of love, knowledge, and creativity continues to inspire.
