Robert Lee Benton, Sr.

Funeral services for Robert Lee Benton, 82, of Thomasville will be held 2:00PM, Friday, June 3, 2016 at First Baptist Church Chapel. Interment will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery and Rev. Dr. Milton C. Gardner, Rev. Tom Jacobs and Rev. David Cook will officiate. Mr. Benton passed away on May 31, 2016 at his residence at Southern Pines. Born November 9, 1933 in Ochlocknee, he was the son of the late Chester Benton and Susie Busbee Benton Johnson. He was married to his high school sweetheart for 65 years, Peggy Watkins Benton, who survives. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a deacon and taught Sunday School. Mr. Benton was in the Army during the Korean War and was later the Plant Engineer at Waverly Minerals for 42 years. He was a Christian and loving husband, father, and friend. He had a sincere interest in people and always made them feel better about themselves. Survivors include daughters Sandra Benton Bailey (Tom) of Mexico Beach, Florida, Patti Benton Bannister (Johnny) of Coolidge, son, Robert Lee Benton, Jr. (Beth) of Thomasville; grandchildren Rebecca Bailey Sanders (Ricky), Tommy Bailey (Ashley), Leanne Bannister Culbreth (Til), Mary Grace Bannister Murphy (Rick), Margaret Ann Benton Marsh (Wallace), Robert Lee Benton, III (Bri), and Mary Elizabeth Benton; great grandchildren Jake Sanders, Ben Sanders, Lucas Bailey, John Daniel Culbreth, Ann Rollin Murphy, Hunt Murphy, Bradford Marsh, and Cyrus Marsh; sister Helen Alligood of Jacksonville, Florida; brothers Wallace Benton (Jean) of Jacksonville, Florida and Edward Benton (Magaly) of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. His family requests that memorial contributions may be sent to the First Baptist Church Library, P.O. Box 2790, Thomasville, GA 31799. The family will receive friends from 1:00PM until 2:00PM at First Baptist Church Chapel. The family would like to send their deepest appreciation to caregivers Nancy Floyd, Faye James, Resa Ray and Hospice Care. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .