Sharon Teel Bennett January 31, 1940 – March 18, 2026

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we celebrate the life of Sharon Teel Bennett, who passed away on March 18, 2026 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, compassion, and quiet strength.

Sharon was born in Nacogdoches, Texas and her life’s journey carried her across the state - from Carthage to Brownsville, each place adding to the story she would later tell with joy and a touch of mischief. She often shared memories of her time in Brownsville with a twinkle in her eye, recalling nights spent dancing along the banks of the Rio Grande. It was in south Texas where she met a dashing young airman, Lee Bennett, who would later become her beloved husband.

Life with Lee carried her beyond Texas, including time spent in the Dakotas during his service in the United States Air Force. His orders to Barksdale Air Force Base eventually brought them to the Shreveport-Bossier area. Being close to her parents in San Augustine, Sharon, a Texas girl at heart, chose to put down roots in Shreveport, creating a home and community that would remain central to her life for decades.

An acclaimed artist and devoted advocate for the arts, Sharon lived a life defined by creativity, resilience, grace, and a deep appreciation for beauty. As Chair of the Hoover Watercolor Society, she played a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant artistic community, encouraging expression and connection through her leadership. Her work as the Arts in Education Artist Coordinator for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council reflected her deep commitment to ensuring that the arts continued to inspire and shape future generations.

While she was a talented artist in her own right, her gifts extended far beyond her work. At her core, Sharon was a caregiver, a steady and compassionate presence in the lives of so many. She was the friend who showed up without being asked, the one who made sure others were cared for, often driving loved ones to appointments, tending to their needs, and offering comfort in ways both quiet and deeply meaningful. Her generosity of spirit left a lasting imprint on everyone she touched.

Sharon’s love of art carried her far beyond home. An avid and independent traveler, she explored Europe on her own, wandering through museums and galleries and soaking in the beauty and culture that inspired her work. She also pursued her passion through residencies at art schools in New York, always seeking to learn, grow, and create.

Her devotion to family was unwavering. After the passing of her beloved husband, Lee, in 1994, Sharon carried forward with remarkable strength, remaining a steady source of love, guidance, and support to their three children, Cari, Beth, and Michael. In later years, she once again embodied selfless devotion as she lovingly cared for her daughter Cari throughout her illness, remaining faithfully by her side until Cari’s passing in 2021. Her life reflected a depth of love and resilience that cannot be measured.

Sharon also had a tender and generous heart for animals, especially those in need. Her home was a place of refuge and care, shared with her beloved special needs dogs, Candy and Tex, and her cherished orphaned cats, Bunny, Chang, and Mia. She saw worth and beauty in every living thing, offering patience, kindness, and unconditional love.

To those who knew her, Sharon was a source of warmth, strength, and unwavering compassion. She had an extraordinary ability to care for others in both big and small ways, making people feel loved, offering comfort, and bringing laughter that could brighten even the hardest days. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she uplifted and the love she gave so freely.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Jimbo) Herring and Michael (Carole) Bennett, and her son-in-law, Pete Bollinger; her grandchildren, Nicolas Bollinger (Sarah), Megan Russell (Rod), Melissa Herring, Ashlie Alexander (Josh), Katie Sippola (Tucker), and Brandon Bennett (Connor); her great-grandchildren, Eli Russell (Gendeling), Mikaela Wilson (Ken), Mercie, Silas, Titus, Zeke, and Zoey Russell, Bryton, Sawyer, Laylah, and Liam Huffty, and Eleanora and Arlo Sippola; her great-great-grandchildren, Daniel and Mikenna Wilson; and special friends Ardis, Deanie, Jacque, Lynn along with a multitude of others. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Bennett; her daughter, Cari Bennett Bollinger; and special companions, Al and John.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 10:00 a.m. at Aulds Funeral Home in Shreveport, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Pet Savers Shreveport, honoring Sharon’s lifelong dedication to creativity, compassion, and care.

Her life was a masterpiece, painted with love, shaped by resilience, and forever reflected in the lives she so deeply cared for.