Michelle Clarice Fernander

It was shortly after Groundhog Day, when the idea dawned upon the soon to be parents that their baby daughter would hold the honor of becoming the first of five expected grandchildren in 1969. Michelle Clarice Benton was born on February 3, 1969, to Samuel and Juanita Benton of Gary, Indiana. During her early formative years, she attended Elka, St. Hegwig, and Holy Angels school, and later graduated from Lew Wallace High School, where she was active member of the Y- teens, French Club, Drama Club Class, Tennis Team, Pom Pom Squad, and Student Council. Outside of her academic extracurricular activities, she was also known to be an avid lover of music by Prince Rogers Nelson, Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, Notre Dame College Football, Marvel/DC Comics, and a life-long die-hard fan of the ABC soap operas, All My Children and General Hospital.

After graduating from high school, she moved to the
Commonwealth of Virginia to attend Hampton University, a state in which she later
decided to call home after a brief stay in New Hampshire for work. During her early
career, Michelle worked in a microbiology lab where she tested the safety and quality of
various food ingredients prior to their distribution out to local grocery stores and later
attended George Washington University School of Business to acquire certifications in
Information Technology/ Project Management. Her investment in this training opened
doors for her to pursue new career opportunities as a Senior Consultant for Austin
Logistics Dialer Support, Senior Network Voice Operations Manager for Capital One
and Office Manager for Treherne Dermatology. Beyond her professional responsibilities,
she burnt the midnight oil for her true passion project of working as the Advanced
Development Program Youth Director and Webmaster for Churchland Soccer League
as well as serving as the Tidewater Advance Soccer League President.
Prior to being diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, Michelle was a huge champion
and advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness and ran frequently in various 5K events to
summon the public to support research efforts in finding a cure. Even with her own
personal battle as a Metavivor (metastatic breast cancer warrior), she remained
steadfast in educating friends and family about the terminal disease and highlighting the
need for research beyond early-stage breast cancer on various social media platforms.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Tyler (Clara) Gammon, Sr. and
Juanita Preston; 4 aunts, Doris McGhee, Ruth Benton, Doris Wilson, and Wilma
Gammon Lane; 3 uncles, Louis Lee, Roosevelt Benton, and Robert Gammon; 2
cousins, Derrick Benton and Charles Wilson. She leaves to cherish her memories: her
only son, Lasamson Zawadi Fernander of Suffolk, VA; her parents, Samuel and Juanita
Benton of Gary, IN; her baby sister, Monica Christine Benton of Manvel, TX; her
cousin/brother, Dale Kent Benton; 4 aunts, Deloris Jean Lee, Evelyn Gammon, Brenda
Gammon, and Grace Gammon; 2 uncles, Edward Gammon and Tyler Gammon, Jr.;
cherished friends, Darling Pleasant, Yoti Kale Jones, Travita Jackson Fentress, Fenise

Dunson, The Littlejohn Family, Shereena Anderson, Lily Hsu, William Sinkler, Shean
Robinson, and Kevin Hart; and a host of cousins, relatives and friends.

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