Bennie Merle Marler, age 89, of Brantley, Alabama, departed this life on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at Athens Limestone Hospital in Athens, Alabama.

Funeral services will be held from Hayes Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 12:00 PM, with Rev. Byron Wiggins officiating. Committal services will follow in the Pine Level Community Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Hayes Funeral Home on Friday from 11:00 AM until 12:00 PM.

Mrs. Marler was a hard‑working, loving mother and a strong supporter of her community, known for her dedication, kindness, and the steady encouragement she offered to those around her.

She is survived by her daughters, Beth Blankenship of Elkmont, AL, and Mandy Mingo of Elkmont, AL; her son, Billy (Terri) Marler of Brantley, AL; and her brother, Joe Frank Kilcrease of Brantley, AL. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, seven great‑grandchildren, and two great‑great‑grandchildren, each representing the generations she lovingly nurtured.

Mrs. Marler was preceded in death by her father, Daniel Kilcrease; her mother, Amanda Ethal Wells Kilcrease; her sisters, Sara Dell Kidd, Betty Jane Carnley, Bessie Mae Kilcrease, and Mary Nell Hardy; and her brother, Buster Kilcrease.

Mrs. Marler will be remembered for her devotion to family, her tireless work ethic, and the heartfelt way she invested in her community. Her legacy continues in the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren.

Hayes Funeral Home of Elba, Alabama, is serving the Marler family.