Phyllis Brosh

Obituary: Phyllis Dianne Benfield Brosh, 64, of China Grove, went to her Heavenly home on Monday, February 11, 2019, at Novant Hospital in Salisbury, NC. Phyllis was born March 29, 1954, in Cabarrus County, She was the daughter of Elaine Lunsford Benfield and the late Clyde Mitchell Benfield of Enochville. A 1972 graduate of South Rowan High School, she was voted Miss Merry Christmas. After graduation, Phyllis served five years active duty in the U.S. Army, National Security Agency, Central Security Service, and from March, 1976 to June, 1977, as a Cryptanalyst. During her service, SGT. Brosh received the Good Conduct Medal, Sharpshooter Badge Rifle M-16, and in 1977, the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Later, she served in the Reserves. Phyllis was a Senior Underwriter for First Reliance Bank, headquartered in Florence, SC. A loving partner, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, and friend, she was a kind and generous soul who, without a thought, always put the needs of others before her own. Just one example was, when walking after a stroke a few years ago, she gave her cane to a person on the street she thought needed it more than her. That was Phyllis. On weekend mornings, she enjoyed going across the street to have coffee with her mom, sister, and brother-in-law. She loved to cook, watch birds, and care for her two furbabies, cats Bear and Gracie. Sharing recipes and her latest culinary creation with family was something she did quite often. She loved nature; and, in the warmer months, found a sense of peace being outside watching the birds, the trees, and all of God's creatures. She was such a truly special human being, and will be so missed by those who knew her. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Mark Overcash of the home; mother, Elaine Benfield of China Grove; sister, Cathy Benfield Matthews and husband, Ron, of China Grove; brother, Guy (Tony) Benfield of Enochville; aunt, Joyce Bonds of Kannapolis; nephew, Mark Lefler and wife, Christine, of China Grove; great nieces Lexi Lefler and Taylor Lefler of China Grove; and great nephew, Sonny Lefler of China Grove. John Higdon, Director of Wholesale Mortgage Lending, says this about Phyllis: She spent her early career in real estate, but moved into mortgage underwriting in the mid 1990's with GE Capital Mortgage Insurance and later with United Guaranty Mortgage Insurance. She became a Senior Underwriter in 2007, when she joined First National Bank of the South in Spartanburg, SC. She also held Senior Underwriting positions for First Federal of Charleston as well as Harbor National Bank prior to joining First Reliance. Phyllis was considered an expert in her field as well as a pioneer for "In Home" underwriting. The mortgage industry in the 1990's didn't have operations employees that worked from their homes. Phyllis was one of the first underwriters given the rare opportunity to work from her home in China Grove, and she "knocked it out of the park". She excelled so well with loan volume and loan quality that she opened the doors for others to have the same opportunity in what is now a huge sector of the Mortgage industry. Phyllis spent her day fielding questions from loan officers, processors and also co-workers to help them ready their mortgage files for approval as well as underwriting her assigned files. Phyllis was respected and loved by her customers as well as her co-workers. Her co-workers affectionately called her "General Brosh" because of her military background and her knowledge of underwriting guidelines. In 2016, Phyllis was awarded the bank's President's Award, which is the highest award an employee can earn at First Reliance. The award was especially significant as she was unanimously nominated by every employee in her division. Phyllis was not only a wonderful coworker, but a very dear friend to all. Her selfless acts of kindness helped change the lives of many. Her life was full of small kindnesses, small courtesies, and small considerations that made her charming to all who knew her. She will be sorely missed and I can speak for the entire First Reliance family in saying she is considered irreplaceable. Visitation: Whitley's Funeral Home, Saturday February 16 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM conducted by Rev. Gene Beaver. Burial of ashes will be held Wednesday, February 20, at 1:00 at Salisbury National Cemetery with Military Honors. The family will also receive visitors at the Matthews' home in China Grove. Memorials may be made to The Alzheimer's Association, 3800 Shamrock Dr. Charlotte, NC 28215-3220. Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.
Visitation: 1:30 to 3:00 PM Saturday February 16, 20-19 Whitley's Funeral Home

Service: Memorial Service 3:00 PM Saturday February 16, 20-19 Whitley's Funeral Home

Interment: Salisbury National Cemetery February 20, 2019 1:00 PM Wednesday