Bennie Lee Fife Mitcham, 78 of Strong died June 20, 2012 at Baptist Health in Little Rock.

Bennie was born December 18, 1933 in the New London community near Strong to Chester and Tommie Fife.

Bennie was an extremely dedicated hard working woman. Whether it was taking care of the family business "Mitcham Timber company" or just simply cooking , sewing and gardening, she did it with passion and did it herself. She was raised up and down the Ouachita River in Arkansas and Louisiana and enjoyed the lifestyle the river provided. She hunted and fished and built the only floating chicken house on the river. She was active politically to saving the river and served on "Save the Ouachita" committee. She also loved animals of all kinds, but most of all she loved her family who will dearly miss her. She was a dedicated Christian lady of the Baptist Faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; Franklin Mitcham who passed in 2008 a son; Kenneth Mitcham who passed in 2007, one grandchild and a great grandchild.

Survivors include two sons; Wayne Mitcham of Urbana and David Mitcham of Strong, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 22, 2012 at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church on Pigeon Hill Rd. At Moro Bay
Funeral Services will be at 10a.m. Saturday June 23, 2012 at the church with Revs. Michael Collins and Buddy Burton officiating under the direction of Perry's Funeral Chapels. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.