Juanita Ledford Mattingly-Benton, IL

Juanita Ledford Mattingly, age 87, of Benton, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 17, 2026.

Juanita was born on June 30, 1939, in Polkville, North Carolina. Juanita was known by all as an exceptionally kind and giving person, many who knew her have remarked that they had never met a kinder person in their lives. Her life was defined by her deep faith in God, an industrious work ethic, and an unwavering devotion to her family.

She was very expressive about her love for her family, loving them all very deeply, and always cheering her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren on in their pursuits. She was famous for never missing a birthday card and took a great deal of joy in selecting the most meaningful and special cards for her family and friends. Cards would arrive on every occasion or just to let them know that she was thinking about and praying for them.

In her free time, she loved to cook, work in the yard, tend to the garden, and play cards with her friends. She loved coffee, spending time with her family, and was legendary for baking her famous Italian cream cake. She also created many beautiful, intricate, and profoundly meaningful scrapbooks which she made especially for her family and gifted to them. The scrapbooks had different themes tailored to the recipient and captured special times, chronologically covered lives, and memorialized distant family tree members.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Juanita found great joy in scripture and attending Bible study. Her faith called her to a life of service, which included impactful missionary work in France. For many years, she worked at the First Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where she met her husband, Jerry. While there, in addition to working in the administration of church business, she faithfully served as a counselor, offering guidance and comfort to those facing difficult times. Juanita’s industrious nature kept her active well into her later years; she loved staying busy and worked into her eighties at The Buzz Cafe in downtown Benton, where she greeted the community with her signature warmth. After settling in Benton, she worked as a computer lab assistant at Benton Grade School for a couple of years.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Jerry Mattingly; her daughters, Donna, Cathy (Darin), Beki (Bruce), and Paula (Jimmy); and her son, Joe (Helen). She also leaves behind her cherished grandchildren, Joe (Morgan), Ginna, Ben, Cole, and Cian; and her great-grandchildren, Kaley, Miller, and Banks, along with a host of extended family and dear friends.

A memorial ceremony in honor of Juanita’s life will be held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Immanuel Baptist Church in Benton, Illinois at 11:00. There will be a visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. on Friday at the church.

For more information or to send online condolences please visit www.mortonjohnstonfuneralhome.com