Rachel Brantley Sword Benzie, 97, died on January 14, 2025, with family by her side. Rachel was predeceased by her husbands, Dean W. Sword, Sr. and George E. "Bennie" Benzie, Jr. She was born in Spring Hope, North Carolina to Charles Rich and Dollie Perry Brantley, but spent over 85 years as a resident of Portsmouth.

Rachel is survived by her son, The Honorable Dean W. Sword, Jr. and his wife, Dee, of Portsmouth; her daughter, Regina B. Forehand and her husband, Hugh, of Chesapeake; grandchildren, Michael D. Sword and his wife, Laura, of Staten Island, NY; Lindsay F. Weatherford and her husband, Tommy; Blair F. Johnson and her husband, Chris, all of Chesapeake; and six great-grandchildren: Devyn Rachel Sword of Williamsburg, VA; Justin M. Sword of Staten Island, NY; Camryn B. Weatherford, Payton O. Weatherford, Brady C. Johnson, and Caroline E. Johnson, all of Chesapeake.

Rachel was a businesswoman, owning her own real estate business for over 40 years. She held various positions on both the state and local levels with the Board of Realtors and was active on various boards and commissions for the City of Portsmouth, including the Mayor's Commission for the Handicapped and the Special Advisory Board for the Portsmouth Public Schools. In the early 1970's, she was the first woman to be named to the Board of Directors of the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce and was the first woman on the board of the Retail Merchants Association.

Rachel was one of the seven "founding sisters" who founded the Help and Emergency Response (H.E.R.) Shelter in Portsmouth, which provides resources to survivors of domestic violence. She also served as president of the Tidewater Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors and state president and governor of the Women's Council of Realtors. She was a past president of the Woman's Club of Portsmouth and a member of the Elizabeth River Garden Club, the Sterling Point Garden Club, and the Green Pine Garden Club. She was a member of the Church of the Resurrection and loved entertaining and spending time with her family and friends.

Over the last decade of her life, Rachel fought dementia with the same strength and determination that she had lived her life. The family would like to thank the ladies of Farmers Home Health who gave her love, care, and support that allowed her to remain in her home.

All are welcome at the visitation from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Friday, January 24th, at Foster Funeral Home, 1926 High St., Portsmouth. Funeral services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the H.E.R. Shelter online at hershelter.com or by mail to PO Box 2187 Portsmouth, VA 23702, or to a charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered at BWFosterFuneralHome.com.