Charlotte Benefield Lough, 79, passed away on November 23, 2019. She was born on December 4, 1939 in Decatur, GA to Clarence Eugene Benefield (Mr B) and Sara Ruth Sheppard. Charlotte attended Mercer University in Macon, GA, was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and received a degree in Speech and Drama with a double minor in English and Art. She was a teacher at Warner Robins High School, GA and the director at a local amateur theater. She met the love of her life an Air Force officer, R. Keith Lough, while he designed and built the set for the play, "My Three Angels."

Charlotte and Keith were married on September 14, 1963 in Decatur, GA. Thus they started a life that took them all over the world and stations in the United States. Charlotte had two children, Ann Marie Lough and Heather Lynne Lough. Charlotte was a stay at home mom until the girls were in their early teens. She then decided to go back to The University of Oklahoma to earn a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology which she practiced for twenty-five years. She earned a reputation as an expert and was often called on to give expert testimony in trials. Charlotte concluded that phase of her life as the Director of Speech and Hearing Department of the University of New Mexico which she drove to national prominence. A few years before retiring, Charlotte returned to a lifetime passion of painting and began taking classes to refresh her skill, "eye" and discipline.

In 2012, she moved to Montereau Retirement Community in Tulsa, OK and painting became the center of her life. She took numerous workshops from many nationally known artists. A number of nationally and internationally known photographers have given her permission to use their photographs. Charlotte has constantly shown her work and won numerous honors and has shown in galleries and a museum has bought her work. Charlotte has been very active in the art community especially in the Alpha Rho Tau Civic Art Association (ART) and Tulsa Art Guild (TAG).

Charlotte is survived by her husband of 56 years, Keith Lough; daughters, Ann Horton (Scott) of Pryor, OK and Heather Lough of Albuquerque, NM, grandchildren Wes Horton (Alyssa) of Siloam Springs, AR, Kendall Harris (Kolin) of Collinsville, OK and Corey Horton of Edmond, OK; great granddaughter Kinsley; brother Dan Benefield (Chris) of Tucker, GA.

Viewing will be Wednesday, 10a-8pm at Moore's Southlawn Funeral Home, 9350 E. 51st Street, Tulsa and the Memorial Service will be held 10AM, Friday, November 29, 2019 at Fitzgerald's Southwood Colonial Chapel, 3612 E. 91st St. South, Tulsa, OK 74137. Interment will be 1:00P.M. at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Road, Fort Gibson, Oklahoma


In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Epiphany Association, 820 Crane Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15216-3050.