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Updated: 06 Sep 2009 BENNETT,
Fannie
Blind Woman Here Puts Up Cup Forever A familiar gray haired figure has left Sapulpa’s streets forever. She sat in the sunshine on cold days and on the shady side in summer up and down the main streets of this city to hold out her tin cup and the generosity of the public was her livelihood. Totally blind, good humored, Miss Fannie Bennett, age 58, died of pneumonia at her room in the Goodlander Hotel shortly before noon. Many Sapulpans will recall the traffic she has stopped in crossing the street, her cup in one hand and her folding chair in the other. Many will also recount the times they personally conducted her across the busy thoroughfares. Charitable authorities here tell many stories of her utter independence and her determination to be self supporting even with her begging. An inspection of her effects today reveal that she has no indication of having near relatives. Only a letter ???? so in her plain room, apparently to friends, where left behind. She never entered into any discussion what-so-ever of her past or gave any account of her background. She told Salvation Army officials sometime ago, however, that she had been blind since she was 12 years old. The body of Miss Bennett was taken [to] the Lewis and Landrith undertaking establishment shortly before noon. Funeral services were incomplete today.
November 14, 1934 Blind Woman Buried Today Funeral services were held this afternoon for Miss Fannie Bennett, who died of pneumonia yesterday at her room in the Goodlander Hotel after a short illness. The services were held in the Lewis and Landrith funeral chapel with Maj. Percy Fynn of the Salvation Army officiating. Interment was made in South Heights Cemetery. Miss. Bennett, totally blind, sold pencils here on the streets. She was born in Nocona, Texas, 58 years ago. An eye trouble at the age of 12 robbed her of her sight forever. She attended the state institute for the blind at Austin where she made a splendid record as a student. She continued her studies through grammar school and college and was graduated with honors. In later years she gave religious lectures throughout the southern states and was a student on Biblical and medieval history. She was fond of the classics and could quote from them at length. Up until recent years she found lecturing sufficiently remunerative to sustain herself. When it failed she sold her small wares on the street.
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