The Benson, Diggs, Barnard, Sidifall, Sherman, Cole and Jones families announce with blessed assurance and faith in Almighty God that Enid Erma Benson (“Aunt Tu” and “Etu”) passed from earthly life to spiritual eternity on Sunday, February 1, 2026, in Reston, Virginia. Aunt Tu was predeceased by her parents, Cllr. Joseph Allen Benson and Mrs. Annie Diggs Benson; and her siblings: Mrs. Julia Benson Wesley, Mrs. Mai Benson Deshield, Cllr. Joseph A. Benson, Dr. Henrique Benson, Mrs. Adelaide Johnson Cole, Mrs. Marion Johnson Sherman, Mrs. Alliette Benson Jones, Mrs. Cerue Dunn Darby, Col. John Benson, and Dr. Edward Benson.
Aunt Tu is survived by her siblings: Mrs. Nellie Sidifall and her spouse Reuben, Ellen Wright Brown, and Shirley Wright Henries, and many, many cousins, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews in the Benson, Diggs, Barnard, Sidifall, Sherman, Cole and Jones families, many godchildren, and many, many relatives and friends across Africa, Europe and the United States. May she rest in perfect peace. Amen.
A Requiem Mass in thanksgiving for Aunt Tu’s life and the peaceful repose of her soul in eternal rest will be said at 10:00am on Friday, February 27, 2026, at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church, 1700 Wainwright Drive, Reston, Virginia 20190. Phone:(703) 437-6530. The link to watch the Celebration of Life for Aunt Tu is: https://vimeo.com/event/5723774/353b7a018a?fl=so&fe=fs
In place of flowers, the family requests that you make an offering of Thanksgiving in Aunt Tu’s name to St. Anne’s Church for its Altar Guild where she labored in the Master’s vineyard.
Nellie Benson Sidifall (703) 220-7147
Reginald A. Sherman (571) 228-8092
Mohamedu F. Jones (240) 888-5576
Cyril Jones +231-8801-43032
Enid-Mai Jones King (240) 350-9418
Murray Sherman
Ruphene Sidifall (703) 200-5633
Danielette Dennis O’Neill
Dennis Wornie
Hotels in the area:
Sheraton Reston Hotel
11810 Sunrise Valley Dr, Reston, VA, 20191
Homewood Suites by Hilton Reston
1735 Business Center Drive, Reston, VA, 20190
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Herndon
138 Spring St, Herndon, VA, 20170
Hampton Inn & Suites Herndon-Reston
435 Herndon Pkwy, Herndon, VA, 20170
