PROVIDENCE, RI – The North Kingstown Post Office, located at 7715 Post Road, will be dedicated to The Honorable Melvoid Benson at 1 P.M. on September 25th at the Post Office, the first Rhode Island Post Office to be named for an African American. The dedication is a result of Public Law (P.L.) 114-173, introduced by Congressman Jim Langevin and signed by the President of the United States on June 13, 2016.
The event will feature remarks from Governor Gina Raimondo, Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman James Langevin, Congressman David Cicilline, North Kingstown Town Council President Kerry McKay and Elizabeth Estes, niece of Mrs. Benson. David Mastroianni, CT Valley District Manager for the Postal Service’s CT Valley District, who oversees postal operations in RI, MA and CT, will offer welcoming remarks.
The program will also feature an Honor Guard from the RI State Police, the National Anthem, sung by Richard Johnson of the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown, the Pledge of Allegiance led by Aiden and Kyleigh Felice, a performance by the North Kingstown United Methodist Church Choir with guests from the First Baptist Church of North Kingstown, and remarks by family friend Michael “Mac” Cullen, Reverend Lori Eldridge will offer the invocation and benediction.
Be the Match" the RI Blood Bank registry will be on site to provide information on becoming a Bone Marrow donor. Mrs. Benson lost her son Estes to Leukemia in 1996. She was an active member of their Patient Services Committee, and was committed to supporting all aspects of Bone Marrow donor searches and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Scouts from Girl Scout Senior Troop 1280 will also be on hand to hand out programs, another organization that she fully supported.
The Honorable Melvoid J. (Estes) Benson was born in Jackson, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Melvoid and Bertha (Walker) Estes. She was the wife of the late Chief Petty Officer Arnathia Benson; and mother of the late Gilbert Nathaniel Benson and Estes Arnathia Benson.
Mel received her Bachelor of Science degree from Lane College, in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1951. It was her husband’s career that brought them to Rhode Island, but Mel quickly set down roots that would grow deep in the decades that followed. She developed a reputation as a disciplined but caring teacher who treated her students like family, and that family grew substantially over a 30-year career in North Kingstown and Portsmouth schools.
Eager to advocate for her students both in and out of the classroom, Mel decided to run for public office. She became one of the first Black women to be elected to the Rhode Island Legislature, serving District 32 for seven terms as a State Representative from 1990 until 2004.
She would go on to be elected to the North Kingstown School Committee for another eight years, and served on the boards of directors for many community groups, including Rhode Island Family Services, the NAACP, the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, and more. Mel was also a devoted member of the North Kingstown United Methodist Church for thirty-nine years. On Saturday, June 11, 2016, Melvoid Benson passed away peacefully. Many shared their thoughts on her contributions to Rhode Island.
"Mel Benson represented the best of Rhode Island," Governor Raimondo said. "She spent her life breaking down barriers and working to make North Kingstown a place of opportunity for everyone, both in the General Assembly and on the School Committee. Her leadership, dedication to public service, and commitment to social justice left a lasting impact on her community - and laid the foundation for many leaders to follow. I'm proud to honor her memory with this dedication so she can continue to inspire generations to come."
“Teacher. Legislator. Community Activist. Friend. Mel Benson was all those things and more. As a committed public servant, she made Rhode Island a better place and this post office is a fitting tribute to her enduring legacy,” said Senator Reed.
“It is a privilege to stand alongside Mel’s family and many friends as we honor her memory today,” said Senator Whitehouse. “This dedication is symbolic of Mel’s lasting influence on the town where she taught and served with distinction. I’m proud that the Melvoid J. Benson Post Office will stand as a reminder to the next generation of North Kingstown residents of Mel’s trailblazing spirit, and her commitment to education and social justice.”
“Mel Benson was fearless. She blazed the trail for other women of color to run for elected office. She fought tirelessly on behalf of her constituents. She was both an amazing listener and a captivating speaker. In short, Mel was everything that a public servant should be,” said Congressman Langevin. “And while she had many titles – teacher, legislator, advocate, activist, wife, mother – she was, first and foremost, a friend you could count on. I miss Mel deeply, but it brings me great joy knowing that her incredible life and legacy will live on through the dedication of the Melvoid J. Benson Post Office.”
“Melvoid Benson was a pioneer in Rhode Island,” said Congressman Cicilline. “This recognition is a symbol of her enduring impact on our state. Both as a member of the General Assembly and the North Kingstown School Committee, she could be counted on to fight to strengthen Rhode Island’s families. We should always remember her incredible legacy.”
“We are honored to name this Post Office after such a deserving woman. Mel’s legacy of service and selflessness to the Public will forever be a reminder to all who enter these doors.” said US Postal Service District Manager and Lead Executive David Mastroianni, Jr.
The family of Mrs. Benson expressed their gratitude to the elected officials for their recognition of her contributions to North Kingstown and to the state of Rhode Island. “Our family appreciates the Rhode Island Congressional delegation and President Obama for recognizing our aunt's contributions to the citizens of Rhode Island in this remarkable manner. She held her friends and neighbors in high regard, and she shared the beauty and virtues of this state with us,” Estes said.
The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
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