MARGARET JEAN TYLER

July 4, 1949 – March 20, 2026

Margaret Jean Tyler, affectionately known as “Jean”, was born on July 4, 1949. Her life expired on March 20, 2026. She is preceded in death by her oldest daughter Donna Benson, father W. Willie Woods, her mother Margaret Woods and her sister Annette Robinson.

She is survived by her youngest daughter Kimberly Benson and first husband Curtis Benson, her brother Irving Woods, her sister Maxine Jenkins, her grandson Jadin Suthers and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jean’s roots go back to Chicago, when at the age of 10, her mother took her and her siblings to the Kingdom Hall as well as sharing in the field ministry. In the following years, her life took on many twists and turns never forgetting her strong bond with Jehovah God. Jean’s first husband Curtis was in the United States Air Force and that’s what brought her family to California. Later, Jean married Leonard Tyler and after a brief marriage he passed away with lung cancer. Jean lived in California for the next 45 years and dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses December 15, 2012.

She left California and came to Ocala, FL to assist her brother in caring for their parents. After her parents passed away, she became active in the Regional Building Committee and Local Design Committee projects.

The one thing everyone appreciated about Jean was her love for the ministry. It was the joy of being a Kingdom Proclaimer that energized her and kept her happy and content. Many of us here today enjoyed working with her and feeling her excitement to speak in whatever setting there was.

Jean started her full-time ministry on August 1, 2016, and has left an impact on our neighbors and mostly in our congregation in Ocala. She faithfully supported the ministry. She was an excellent full-time minister, not only in the field but she set a fine example in the congregation and was a loyal supporter of Jehovah’s Kingdom. She happily adapted to change and helped many to do the same.

Jean loved gardening, fishing, arts and crafts and quilting. She was also known as a foodie. She also enjoyed all types of cuisines and loved to entertain her friends and family. Jean loved to give gifts and many today have been recipients of her gifts and the giving of herself to others. She was not one to ask what a friend needs. She made it her mission to find out and then helped the person with what they needed, truly imitating the greatest giver, Jehovah God.

As the days and weeks go by, we ponder on the life course of Jean who reflected the sentiments of the Apostle Paul who said at 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know the runners in a race all run, but only one receive the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” Jean has run her race and is safe in Jehovah’s memory awaiting her reward. It’s a certainty.

We rejoice in knowing that in the very near future when we are reunited with Jean in a paradise earth, we’ll have the joy of never saying goodbye but, rather rejoice with Jean as we serve our heavenly Father for eternity.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

“On behalf of the family of Jean Tyler, we would like to thank all of you for being here and supporting the family as well as her extended family and friends. A special thank you for all the meals, prayers, gifts, flowers and trips taking Jean to her appointments and for all other unseen acts of kindness.”