Joseph Byrum Benson

SERVICES: FRIDAY,MARCH 4, 201611:00 A.M.PINE GROVE CHURCH OF GOD(DIXON COMMUNITY)VISITATION: THURSDAY,MARCH 3, 20164:00 - 7:00 P.M.MCCLAIN-HAYS FUNERAL HOMEINTERMENT:PINE GROVE CEMETERYWITH MILITARY HONORSOFFICIATING:REV. PHILLIP WILLIAMSREV. DAVE COXREV. KAY STEWARTREV. JIM MARTINREV. ROB HILLREV. LISA PATTERSON Joseph Byrum Benson, son of Laura Etta Reynolds and Shum Henry Benson, died at home on Saturday, February 27, 2016, at 100 years of age. He was born in Dixon, Mississippi, at the family home on June 10, 1915. He was a WWII veteran, school administrator, and wordsmith who could tell a story, quote a poem, or tell a joke. He was a husband of 70 years to his beloved wife, father of four children, grandfather of twelve, great-grandfather of three, follower of Jesus Christ, and a man who embodied the qualities and character of what has been coined “the greatest generation.” The span of 100 years that Joe Benson’s life covered was one of innovation and change.  He witnessed the advent of the automobile, air travel, the first man on the moon, computer technology, and the globalization of society. He was interested in everything. Joe often recalled the following memories:  church breaking up at Pine Grove Church of God as an airplane passed overhead and the time when his entire sixth grade class went on a fieldtrip to hear the first radio broadcast at the only home in the community who possessed this new invention. Joe worked in the cotton mills during the Great Depression, in Kosciusko and then later in Meridian, while living in a boarding house with three of his siblings and their families. They worked, slept, and ate in shifts in order to make ends meet, yet they were always grateful for the blessings of life. After four years in the textile industry, Joe left to pursue a college education. Joe was a member of the charter class of Meridian Junior College and then attended Anderson University or what was then Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana. It was at college that he met Margaret Gloria Vines. They married after two years of courtship. Before completing their studies, Joe was drafted and sent to serve in the Philippines and then later in Japan. After two years Joe returned to his wife and child, who was eighteen months old when he met his father for the first time. It was then that Joe took his young family to the Sunshine State after graduating from Anderson College with a bachelor’s degree in education. He immediately pursued a master’s degree from Stetson University. Joe became a teacher, but served as a school administrator for most of his long career in Florida and then later in retirement in Mississippi. He mentored, encouraged, and guided generations of teachers and students. At his 100th birthday party, many of the students for whom he had been principal traveled from the southeast to celebrate with “Mr. Benson.” The institutions of his life were of primary importance to Joe. He proudly served his country, was an educator at heart and by vocation, was a devoted churchman who took his family to church whenever the doors were open, worshiping, serving, teaching, and working at whatever task needed to be done. The family arrived early to church and stayed late. Joe was the president of the alumni association for Anderson College and over twenty-five family members followed in his footsteps to attend college at his alma mater. He worked hard at Warner Southern College, a small church-affiliated school in Florida, to assist in its beginning, and helped establish and direct a drug rehabilitation facility immediately adjacent to the college as a ministry of the college and church. He was a member of the Rotary Club for many years, making sure that he made club dates even when the family traveled all over the United States for extended periods. Joe also was a long-time Gideon. He and his mother published their memoirs, which family members and friends have read with interest, sharing in the poignant and fascinating stories of lives well lived. Joe lived long and well, giving his considerable energies to the good of family, church, country, and in service of encouraging the life of the mind in so many students and faculty in his administrations and life. He and Margaret had many friends with whom they enjoyed good meals, laughter, helped one another with tragedies of life, and were grateful for their blessings. His stories, shared around the table and at any and all family, church, or other gatherings, remain etched in the hearts and minds of so many, providing shared memories through humor, nuance, and love. Joe Benson was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Margaret Gloria Vines Benson, his parents Laura Etta and Shum Benson, and his six brothers and sisters, of whom he was the last remaining child of a generation that handed down a tradition for which the entire family is grateful. He is survived by his four children, David Benson (Josephine) of Dixon, Jo Ann Benson Ballantine (Roy Busby) of Denton, TX, Doug Benson (Suzanne) of Dixon, and Lisa Benson Patterson of Denton, TX. He is survived by 11 grandchildren, Hank Benson (Sara), Tiffany Benson, John Mark Benson (Bethany), Laura Benson Huff (Jeremy), Sam Benson, Shum Benson, Spencer Benson, Curtis Benson, Will Patterson, Walker Patterson, and Ann Patterson; three great-grandchildren, Noah Keeth, Aubrey Benson and Chloe Benson. He is also survived by Alabama brothers-in-law, Fred Vines, Jr. and John Vines, brothers of Margaret, and many loving nieces and nephews on both sides of the family who are sure that they are, indeed, “the favorite niece or nephew.” The family will welcome guests at the visitation at McClain-Hays Funeral Service Thursday, March 3, 2016, from 4 to 7 p.m., 1002 East Main St., Philadelphia, Mississippi. The funeral will be held at Pine Grove Church of God in the Dixon community on Friday, March 4, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Phillip Williams, the Rev. Dave Cox, the Rev. Kay Stewart, the Rev. Howard Benson, the Rev. Rob Hill, and the Rev. Lisa Patterson will be officiating. Music will be provided by nieces, Jeanette Cox, Rita Martin, and the Rev. Kay Stuart. The grandsons and grandson-in-law, Jeremy Huff, will serve as pallbearers. The family wishes to thank all of the employees of the Beehive Homes for their warm, nurturing, and knowledgeable care of Joe Benson these past two years. The Beehive was his home. We also wish to thank Sta-Home Care for their nurture and care the past three weeks during his illness. The family deeply appreciates their professional and caring service. In memory of Joseph Byrum Benson, donations may be made to the Benson Scholarship Fund, Anderson University, 1100 E. 5th St., Anderson, Indiana, 46012, Pine Grove Church of God, 12530 Rd. 127, Union, Mississippi, 39365 or a charity of your choice.