My father, Thomas Eugene Bennett, was the son of Ernest Eugene Bennett and Nanny Inez Skelton Bennett. He was born June 10, 1926 in Sunflower, Mississippi.
Dad was a World War II veteran and received the Purple Heart, as well as other medals. His right eye was put out, he lost fingers on his left hand, and his body was sprayed with shrapnel. Years later pieces of metal would still work its way up to the surface and he would pick it out. When I was a child, he had severe headaches because the shrapnel in his head would move. It eventually became wrapped in scar tissue to the point that it didn't move and he didn't have headaches anymore.
In spite of his injuries, he worked hard all his life. He started working for the Kroger Grocery Company when he was a teen, and worked for them until he retired, except for his stint in WWII.
Besides Sunflower, he resided in West Memphis, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Itta Bena, Greenwood, Carroll County, and Greenville, Mississippi.
Dad passed away at Washington Care Center in Greenville in the same room where he spent many hours sitting with his wife Katherine when she was a patient there.
He was predeceased in death by sons Maddux Bennett and Gene Bennett; daughter Carolyn Bennett; and second wife Katherine Presley Bennett.
He is survived by his daughter, Portia (Ted) Solomon of Cleveland; stepson Jim (Ann) Branch of Birmingham; and stepdaughters Kathy (Stephen) Hogue of Brandon, and Becky (Johnny) Usry of McComb, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dad was first married to my mother, Martha Beatrice James Bennett, who is the mother of Maddux, Portia, Carolyn, and Gene. She is thriving at the young age of 97 years.
Many thanks to Rosemary Ward, Dad's caregiver, for years of devoted care and companionship.
I love you, Dad. I'll see you again soon.
Dad was a World War II veteran and received the Purple Heart, as well as other medals. His right eye was put out, he lost fingers on his left hand, and his body was sprayed with shrapnel. Years later pieces of metal would still work its way up to the surface and he would pick it out. When I was a child, he had severe headaches because the shrapnel in his head would move. It eventually became wrapped in scar tissue to the point that it didn't move and he didn't have headaches anymore.
In spite of his injuries, he worked hard all his life. He started working for the Kroger Grocery Company when he was a teen, and worked for them until he retired, except for his stint in WWII.
Besides Sunflower, he resided in West Memphis, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Itta Bena, Greenwood, Carroll County, and Greenville, Mississippi.
Dad passed away at Washington Care Center in Greenville in the same room where he spent many hours sitting with his wife Katherine when she was a patient there.
He was predeceased in death by sons Maddux Bennett and Gene Bennett; daughter Carolyn Bennett; and second wife Katherine Presley Bennett.
He is survived by his daughter, Portia (Ted) Solomon of Cleveland; stepson Jim (Ann) Branch of Birmingham; and stepdaughters Kathy (Stephen) Hogue of Brandon, and Becky (Johnny) Usry of McComb, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dad was first married to my mother, Martha Beatrice James Bennett, who is the mother of Maddux, Portia, Carolyn, and Gene. She is thriving at the young age of 97 years.
Many thanks to Rosemary Ward, Dad's caregiver, for years of devoted care and companionship.
I love you, Dad. I'll see you again soon.
My father, Thomas Eugene Bennett, was the son of Ernest Eugene Bennett and Nanny Inez Skelton Bennett. He was born June 10, 1926 in Sunflower, Mississippi.
Dad was a World War II veteran and received the Purple Heart, as well as other medals. His right eye was put out, he lost fingers on his left hand, and his body was sprayed with shrapnel. Years later pieces of metal would still work its way up to the surface and he would pick it out. When I was a child, he had severe headaches because the shrapnel in his head would move. It eventually became wrapped in scar tissue to the point that it didn't move and he didn't have headaches anymore.
In spite of his injuries, he worked hard all his life. He started working for the Kroger Grocery Company when he was a teen, and worked for them until he retired, except for his stint in WWII.
Besides Sunflower, he resided in West Memphis, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Itta Bena, Greenwood, Carroll County, and Greenville, Mississippi.
Dad passed away at Washington Care Center in Greenville in the same room where he spent many hours sitting with his wife Katherine when she was a patient there.
He was predeceased in death by sons Maddux Bennett and Gene Bennett; daughter Carolyn Bennett; and second wife Katherine Presley Bennett.
He is survived by his daughter, Portia (Ted) Solomon of Cleveland; stepson Jim (Ann) Branch of Birmingham; and stepdaughters Kathy (Stephen) Hogue of Brandon, and Becky (Johnny) Usry of McComb, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dad was first married to my mother, Martha Beatrice James Bennett, who is the mother of Maddux, Portia, Carolyn, and Gene. She is thriving at the young age of 97 years.
Many thanks to Rosemary Ward, Dad's caregiver, for years of devoted care and companionship.
I love you, Dad. I'll see you again soon.
Dad was a World War II veteran and received the Purple Heart, as well as other medals. His right eye was put out, he lost fingers on his left hand, and his body was sprayed with shrapnel. Years later pieces of metal would still work its way up to the surface and he would pick it out. When I was a child, he had severe headaches because the shrapnel in his head would move. It eventually became wrapped in scar tissue to the point that it didn't move and he didn't have headaches anymore.
In spite of his injuries, he worked hard all his life. He started working for the Kroger Grocery Company when he was a teen, and worked for them until he retired, except for his stint in WWII.
Besides Sunflower, he resided in West Memphis, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Itta Bena, Greenwood, Carroll County, and Greenville, Mississippi.
Dad passed away at Washington Care Center in Greenville in the same room where he spent many hours sitting with his wife Katherine when she was a patient there.
He was predeceased in death by sons Maddux Bennett and Gene Bennett; daughter Carolyn Bennett; and second wife Katherine Presley Bennett.
He is survived by his daughter, Portia (Ted) Solomon of Cleveland; stepson Jim (Ann) Branch of Birmingham; and stepdaughters Kathy (Stephen) Hogue of Brandon, and Becky (Johnny) Usry of McComb, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Dad was first married to my mother, Martha Beatrice James Bennett, who is the mother of Maddux, Portia, Carolyn, and Gene. She is thriving at the young age of 97 years.
Many thanks to Rosemary Ward, Dad's caregiver, for years of devoted care and companionship.
I love you, Dad. I'll see you again soon.
