Benedita Fernandes was born on 27 June 1883 in Campos Novos de Cunha (São Paulo) and died on 9 October 1947 in Araçatuba. Benedita Fernandes' introduction to spiritist activities was very unusual. Plagued by a terrible obsession, a veritable subjugation, Benedita lost contact with her family and wandered aimlessly. On one occasion, she caused so much trouble for the local population that she was taken to the public prison in the city of Penápolis. At that time, there were no hospitals or facilities for such purposes. The prison guard Padial and later Mr Marcheze took care of the sick woman, mainly by laying hands on her. She regained consciousness and decided to go to Araçatuba.

Out of gratitude for the help she received, this simple, black and semi-illiterate woman, together with other laundresses, began building small wooden houses in the then district of Dona Ida (now Santana) in 1927. Benedita became a pioneer of Spiritist social welfare throughout the north-western region of the state of São Paulo when she founded the Associação das Senhoras Cristãs (Association of Christian Women) in Araçatuba on 6 March 1932. As this work laid the foundation for the sanatorium, she is probably also one of the pioneers of Spiritist psychiatric hospitals.

The association's founding meeting took place at the premises of the Spiritist Centre ‘Paz, Amor e Caridade’ (Peace, Love and Charity) in the same neighbourhood. Among those present was the pioneer of the spiritualist movement in Araçatuba, Mr Gedeão Fernandes de Miranda. The relief effort continued with the inauguration of its own building in 1933. At the request of the government authorities, the work was divided into two specific activities, namely the care of the mentally ill and the care of orphans and needy children. This led to the creation of the ‘Children's Home’ and the ‘Dr. Jaime de Oliveira’ retirement home. These facilities were closed in the 1950s after the founder's death and converted into a sanatorium named in Benedita's honour.

Benedita Fernandes also offered a course in collaboration with the city administration and maintained a night shelter. In addition to her charitable work, she was also active as a medium, especially as a passista, and left behind many noble examples. Benedita Fernandes also became one of the pioneers of the current Spiritist union movement when she founded the União Espírita Regional da Noroeste (Regional Spiritist Union of the Northwest) on 30 August 1940 and was elected its president. However, this movement only really flourished with the founding of the União das Sociedades Espíritas do Estado de São Paulo (Union of Spiritist Societies of the State of São Paulo) in 1947.

Benedita was active in the city's Spiritist movement, making visits and campaigning in the region. She corresponded with Cairbar Schutel, who always published news about her work in the historic newspaper O Clarim. She received visits from important figures such as João Leão Pitta and Leopoldo Machado. She even accompanied the latter to a historic Spiritist meeting in the city of Cruzeiro, São Paulo. The pioneer Dr. Tomaz Novelino (from Franca, São Paulo) also mentions the meeting, which he attended together with Benedita and which dealt with the mentally ill. Emília Santos, about whom a biography was also written, and many other leading figures of the time were collaborators of Benedita. She was supported by municipal and state authorities, Spiritists, Freemasons and the population.

There are many touching stories about her commitment to doing good, which she achieved in collaboration with the community. Currently, her earlier works are limited to the Benedita Fernandes sanatorium. The street where the sanatorium is located in the Santana district was also named after her in her honour. There are numerous spiritist institutions in São Paulo and other states that bear her name or have departments named after her.

One factor that contributed to the dissemination of Benedita Fernandes' work was a message psychographed by Francisco Xavier entitled ‘Num Domingo de Calor’ (On a Hot Sunday), signed by Hilário Silva and published in the ‘Anuário Espírita 1964’ (Spiritist Yearbook 1964). "Benedita Fernandes, the selfless founder of the Associação das Senhoras Espíritas Cristãs (Association of Christian Spiritist Women) in Araçatuba, in the state of São Paulo, was invited to a meeting of women dedicated to charity work to discuss various issues related to aid projects. As she was particularly committed to helping the possessed and mentally ill, she could not decline the invitation. However, the presence of the well-known missionary caused quite a stir.

It was a very hot Sunday, and Benedita was wearing a thick woollen coat that would only have been appropriate in cold weather.

However, Benedita spoke about the proposed topics with understanding and love. While working, however, the chairwoman noticed unease in the assembly and claimed that Benedita was sweating profusely, so she asked her to take off her coat. Benedita Fernandes humbly obeyed, even though she was embarrassed, and only then could the ladies present see that the admirable woman who cared for dozens of sick people in Araçatuba with the sweat of her own brow was wearing a simple dress made of coarse fabric with huge patches.

On 8 October 1947, at 11 p.m., she felt unwell while talking to the children and giving them advice. On 9 October 1947, she passed away peacefully at the age of 64. Her funeral was the most attended of its time, and to this day, her grave is one of the most visited in the city of Araçatuba.