John Carlyle Benson

On June 19, 2011, John Carlyle Benson, in his own words, "Changed Worlds". He was born October 8, 1920, the tenth child of Annie Mae Wysong and James Darlington Benson of Charleston, South Carolina. John's parents, five sisters and four brothers predeceased him, two in infancy. He was also predeceased by two nieces and nephews.

Mr. Benson's sisters married and settled in Charleston, Barnwell, South Carolina and LaGrange, Georgia. His brothers married and settled in New York City and Detroit, Michigan to raise their families, the children of whom still live in those general areas.

John is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sara Katharine Mizell Benson, his daughter, Barbara (Mickey) Martin, his son, John C. (Cindy) Benson, Jr., grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

John and his three older brothers, all graduated from The Citadel. Upon his graduation in 1943, he was immediately inducted into the Coast Artillery Corps, and soon after arriving in the Philippine Islands, John became a parachutist with the 11th Airborne Division. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action, April 7, 1945 on Luzon, by order of Major General Swing. In action within a few miles of John's location, the brother closest to him in age, Hugh Woodrow Benson, was killed during the last weeks of World War II. With Japan's surrender, John was sent to Japan with the Occupation Forces.

John was employed for over 30 years with The Equitable Life Assurance Society in the Group Department as a Divisional Group Manager, living in New York City, Dallas, Texas, Cincinnati and Cleveland, Ohio. After his retirement, John and Sara built a home on Slick Rock Mountain, south of Brevard, North Carolina, where they summered for 20 years. During the winter months, they lived at their beach home on Fernandina Beach, Florida. With the onset of the problems of age, John and Sara moved into an apartment within Lanier Village Estates, Gainesville, Georgia, where Mrs. Benson still resides. During their sixty three years together, they were always happily involved with their friends in golf, and Collegiate and professional football activities. John was a life-long Episcopalian and thoroughly enjoyed the services in the "old" 1929 Prayer Book. The list of Cathedrals and Churches of which John and the family were members, would read like a travel log, the last being Grace Episcopal Church, Gainesville, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to The Citadel Development Foundation restricted to Mizell-Benson Scholarship Fund, Grace Episcopal Church or to a Charity of your choice.

Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, June 24, 2011 at 3:00pm in Lanier Village Estates.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA 30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.