Michelle (Whitehead) Bennefield

Graveside services will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Blackjack Cemetery.

Nancy Michelle Bennefield, 54, of Nacogdoches passed away from this earth on Friday, April 25, 2025 in Nacogdoches, Texas as the result of a tragic automobile accident.

Born in Center, Texas on November 2, 1970, to Carlis R. and Barbara Whitehead, Michelle grew up in the community of Blackjack surrounded by her brothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and many friends. Michelle attended Chireno I.S.D. where she enjoyed cheerleading and making and hanging out with friends. From the age of 16, Michelle worked various jobs to help support her parents and brothers. Upon graduating from high school, Michelle attended Panola College where she trained to be a licensed Cosmetologist. As a cosmetologist, Michelle served both the Nacogdoches and Lufkin areas for over 25 years cutting, styling, selling salon products and making individuals look their best.

Michelle loved children. She was blessed with one son whom she raised and supported primarily on her own until she married her beloved Ronald “Toodle” Bennefield on January 7, 2007. Toodle and Michelle built a life together in the Broaddus community where Michelle opened her own salon, they owned and operated a poultry farm, raised their son, and helped their two older children, grandchildren, and Toodle’s parents. 

Family was everything to Michelle. She was extremely close to Papa Bennefield. If he needed anything, Michelle would change her plans to help Papa. She was also extremely close to her Dad. Her daddy hung the moon. Kids were the highlight of Michelle’s life. Spoiling children was Michelle’s passion. Any chance she and Toodle had, they would keep their grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. 

In 2022, Michelle and Toodle retired from the poultry farming business and relocated to the community of Melrose, in Nacogdoches, Texas, bringing Michelle, Toodle, and their son closer to Michelle’s family. 

Michelle was kind, humorous, generous, hard-working, loving, God-fearing, and family driven. She loved God and family more than anything. Michelle honored God through her musical talent. Any opportunity she was afforded, she used her beautiful voice to honor her Lord and Savior. If Michelle wasn’t singing, she was cooking, baking, playing dominoes, swimming, shopping, or riding the side-by-side with her family. 

Michelle is survived by her husband, Ronald (Toodle) Bennefield of Nacogdoches, Texas, parents Carlis R. and Barabara Whitehead of Nacogdoches, Texas; mother-in-law Doyline Bennefield of Broaddus, Texas; step-daughter, Pamela Adkins of Broaddus, Texas; step-son Malcolm Bennefield of Broaddus, Texas; grandchildren Jacy Daugherty and husband Zac,  Kacy Bobbitt and husband Denver, Mason Bennefield, Laney Bennefield, Callie Adkins, and Peyton Adkins all of Broaddus, Texas; great-grandchildren Drew Daugherty and Kohen Bobbitt of Broaddus, Texas; brothers Carlis Ray Whitehead and wife Zee of Nacogdoches, Texas; David Whitehead and wife Vanessa of Nacogdoches, Texas, Mark Whitehead and wife Shannon of Nacogdoches, Texas, James Seth Whitehead and wife Jennifer of Nacogdoches, Texas; brother-in-law Barry Bennefield and wife Janie of Broaddus, Texas; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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