Devoted Teacher Remembered by Many: Fort Worth, Texas

Photography teacher Sharon Grania Jacobus-Benzenhoefer of Fort Worth, Texas, passed away March 16 after a long, hard battle with colon cancer for four years.

I first met Sharon 11 years ago and I always remember her being honest, spiritual, compassionate, and helpful to others. She was big on service work and right up until the time she passed, she was an inspiration to so many. The last time I saw her was in January when she celebrated her sobriety birthday with so many of her friends. People were moved to give her a standing ovation, rightly earned.

Her spirit lives on.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made at any Bank of America for deposit to the Caitlin Benzenhoefer Education Fund.

Sharon was born Oct. 18, 1958 in Providence, R.I., the daughter of Lee A. and Joanna J. Jacobus. She was a devoted member of the Unity Church of Fort Worth and enjoyed 16 years of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous where her list of friends is endless, according to her obituary. (Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Sharon was a teacher at Lamar High School in Arlington Independent School District for ten years.

"She loved her work and the students whose lives she touched. She will be missed by hundreds," her obituary stated. "Sharon was an inspiration to all and a loving wife and tender mother to her daughter Caitlin."

Tributes have poured in for Sharon on her Legacy Guestbook linked to her obituary: (http://www.legacy.com/gb2/Default.aspx?bookID=1378809746783&page=4).

Among them were moving statements such as these:

"I will miss you and our sharing about God and spirituality. You have always been one of my rocks."

"Sharon was my high school classmate, and I have very nice memories of her as a kind and enthusiastic person with a generous spirit. We will all miss her."

"Sharon was a true friend to me in high school where we never got in trouble together, er...almost never...and shared life memories at each Class of '76 reunion in Storrs. She will always have a special place in my heart and those of us who knew her as a teenager and a woman of the arts."

"Sharon, How grateful I am that you will always be in my heart reminding me of the special bond that God has given us."

Another Relay for Life(R) for the American Cancer Society will be held April 24 at Dutch Branch Park (300 Lakeside Drive) from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Benbrook, Texas.

For information, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=17440.

Relays for Life(R) are being held April 1-Nov. 30 in and around Tarrant County, TX and more details may be obtained by accessing RelayForLife.org or by calling 800-651-5199.

The event is part of a worldwide movement that takes place in 19 countries outside the U.S.