Walter Bryant Benton, Jr.

Bro. Walter Bryant Benton, Jr. of Columbus, MS passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019, at his residence.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 30, 2019, from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Steens First Baptist Church, 40 Odom Road, Steens, MS.  A funeral service will follow at 11:00 AM with Bro. Billy Little officiating with Joe Fondren assisting.  Interment will be at Halbert Family Cemetery, Columbus, MS at 2:00 PM with Lowndes Funeral Home directing.

Bro. Benton was born February 22, 1931, to the late Walter Bryant Benton, Sr.  and Mary Martha Halbert Benton,  in Columbus, MS.   Bro. Benton married his wife of 63 years Frances Ellen Fivecoat in Houston, TX on December 9, 1955.  He was 43 years in the ministry and the pastor of Steens First Baptist Church for 36 years until his retirement in 2010.  He was blessed to teach in his Sunday School class until about 6 months ago.  Bro. Benton published a collection of his teaching and Bible commentaries that can be reviewed at www.godswordforthejew.webs.com . In addition to his parents, Bro. Benton was preceded in death by his sister – Mary Irene Benton Eaves.

Bro. Benton is survived by his wife – Frances Ellen Fivecoat Benton, Columbus, MS; son – Bryant Keith (Cindy) Benton, Olive Branch, MS; daughters – Ellen Benton (Reese) James, Columbus, MS, Karen Benton (Mitchell) Thornton, Columbus, MS and Lynne Benton (Mike) Carney, Debrecen, Hungary; grandchildren – Bryan (Becca), Justin (Carley), Melissa, Michael (Jana), Kyndal (Justin), Sean, T.J. (Tori), Matthew and Katie; great-grandchildren – Martin, Olivia, Tatum, Dani, Bowen, Emma, Patrick, Mary Alice, Betty Brooke and Blakeney.

Pallbearers will be Laymon Alexander, Robert Bates, John Beasley, Warren Conner, Tom Garrett, Troy Garrett, Randy Junkin, Ronnie King, Wenn Dale Malone, Hallon McCool, Larry Shelton, and Lee Younger. Honorary pallbearers will be Ernest DeWitt, Gene O'Brian, Greg Renfrow, Jim Richardson, David Skinner, Charlie Whitney, Wayne Wouri and Jackie Yow.

Memorials may be made to Steens First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 40, Steens, MS  39766.