Sonjilyn Renee Rittenberry

SONJILYN RENEE BENN RITTENBERRY, age 59, of Livingston, Alabama, was born October 06, 1963 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the union of Dan and Lucille Robinson Benn. She entered into eternal rest July 24, 2023 at Brookwood Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama surrounded by loving family. Service of Remembrance and Life Celebration is slated for Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. from Bethel Pine Baptist Church, located 796 Sumter 22, Coatopa, Alabama, with Rev Byron Franklin, Sr, (Living Word Church) delivering the eulogy offering words of comfort and consolation; Rev. Willie James Ivory is church pastor. Interment follows in Elmwood Memorial Gardens, 11313 US Highway 11, York, Alabama. Sonjilyn's parents moved to Long Beach, California where she spent her preschool years up to the time she was twelve years old. In September 1975, her mom returned to her hometown of Epes, Alabama to care for her mother who had taken ill. During that time Sonjilyn attended middle school and graduated from Livingston High School with honors in the Class of 1981. After graduation, she attended Alabama A&M University. She then enlisted in the United States Army Reserves and completed Basic Training in Virginia. After Basic Training she spent two years at the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University), deciding to re-enlist in the US Army full time, serving six years of active duty. Instead of remaining in the Military, Sonjilyn pursued her dream career as a Cosmetologist opening her first hair salon in York, Alabama, titled, "Sonjilyn's Hair Design". She moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and opened a second hair salon titled, "A Heavenly Touch Hair Salon". After spending twenty-six (26) years working as a Professional Beauty Stylist, she retired from work in 2018. Sonjilyn was married to Karl Rittenberry for six years and they shared three beautiful children together, Karlos White (stepson), Brittney Rittenberry and Darius Rittenberry. In addition to her children, she is survived by her mother, Lucille Benn; brother, Carl Robinson; sisters - Dana Benn, Vivian Benn Ross, Debra Benn Johnson, Anitra Benn Hall, Amelia, Dawn, Deetra and Danetta Benn along with a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends who loved her dearly and whom she also loved. Truly Sonjilyn will be missed! To the entire Rittenberry/Benn family, we at Weatherly Funeral Home offer to each of you our most sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolences. Our prayer remains that your abiding faith in God will continue to lend to you a measure of comfort to Strengthen and Sustain you during your time of sorrow.