The Rev. Howard B. Benson, who served as pastor for the First Baptist Church in Carrollton for 31 years, died suddenly at his home on Sunday night, December 10, 1978, from an apparent heart attack.
Earlier that day he had served as pallbearer for his longtime friend, Rev. Ebb G. Kilpatrick, Sr., who was a former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, who had died Saturday following an illness.
Rev. Benson served as pastor at First Baptist from July 2, 1944 until May 25, 1975, when he retired.
He was born in Attalla County, Mississippi, the sixth of seven children and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley Benson. He became a Christian at the age of 12 and preached on an informal basis after graduating high school.
He was ordained into the ministry in 1933 during his first year at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and received his degree there in 1937.
He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary in 1941, and served at several churches before answering a call to Terry Baptist Church in Hinds County, Mississippi. He remained there until coming to Carrollton in 1944.
Under his guidance, there were major improvements and additions to the church's physical plan; additional property was acquired and about 1,600 joined the church.
Mr. Benson's ministry extended far beyond the church sanctuary. He organized the first unit of the Extension Department of Mercer University and taught for 15 years. He helped set up the first school for the mentally retarded children in West Georgia. He was instrumental in establishing the Carroll County Mental Health Association and served as director for six years.
He served on the board that organized the first school for training practical nurses for service in local hospitals, and that program was to become a part of the curriculum at Carroll Tech. In cooperation with the Extension Department of Nashville Baptist Seminary, he organized a school for black preachers and taught the program for three years.
He also served as the moderator of the Carrollton Baptist Association, president of the Carrollton Ministerial Association and vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
He was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Student Union at West Georgia College (now University of West Georgia), which eventually led to obtaining property for the BSU facility and employment of a full time director.
Rev. Benson was active in many organizations and clubs, including the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Carrollton Rotary Club and the Carrollton Masonic Lodge.
After "retiring" in 1975, he opened a counseling office and served as interim pastor at several churches, including Centralhatchee, Flat Rock Baptist and Sargeant Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Inez Gilbert he lovingly called "Dovie" and six sisters.
Earlier that day he had served as pallbearer for his longtime friend, Rev. Ebb G. Kilpatrick, Sr., who was a former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, who had died Saturday following an illness.
Rev. Benson served as pastor at First Baptist from July 2, 1944 until May 25, 1975, when he retired.
He was born in Attalla County, Mississippi, the sixth of seven children and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley Benson. He became a Christian at the age of 12 and preached on an informal basis after graduating high school.
He was ordained into the ministry in 1933 during his first year at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and received his degree there in 1937.
He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary in 1941, and served at several churches before answering a call to Terry Baptist Church in Hinds County, Mississippi. He remained there until coming to Carrollton in 1944.
Under his guidance, there were major improvements and additions to the church's physical plan; additional property was acquired and about 1,600 joined the church.
Mr. Benson's ministry extended far beyond the church sanctuary. He organized the first unit of the Extension Department of Mercer University and taught for 15 years. He helped set up the first school for the mentally retarded children in West Georgia. He was instrumental in establishing the Carroll County Mental Health Association and served as director for six years.
He served on the board that organized the first school for training practical nurses for service in local hospitals, and that program was to become a part of the curriculum at Carroll Tech. In cooperation with the Extension Department of Nashville Baptist Seminary, he organized a school for black preachers and taught the program for three years.
He also served as the moderator of the Carrollton Baptist Association, president of the Carrollton Ministerial Association and vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
He was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Student Union at West Georgia College (now University of West Georgia), which eventually led to obtaining property for the BSU facility and employment of a full time director.
Rev. Benson was active in many organizations and clubs, including the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Carrollton Rotary Club and the Carrollton Masonic Lodge.
After "retiring" in 1975, he opened a counseling office and served as interim pastor at several churches, including Centralhatchee, Flat Rock Baptist and Sargeant Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Inez Gilbert he lovingly called "Dovie" and six sisters.
The Rev. Howard B. Benson, who served as pastor for the First Baptist Church in Carrollton for 31 years, died suddenly at his home on Sunday night, December 10, 1978, from an apparent heart attack.
Earlier that day he had served as pallbearer for his longtime friend, Rev. Ebb G. Kilpatrick, Sr., who was a former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, who had died Saturday following an illness.
Rev. Benson served as pastor at First Baptist from July 2, 1944 until May 25, 1975, when he retired.
He was born in Attalla County, Mississippi, the sixth of seven children and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley Benson. He became a Christian at the age of 12 and preached on an informal basis after graduating high school.
He was ordained into the ministry in 1933 during his first year at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and received his degree there in 1937.
He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary in 1941, and served at several churches before answering a call to Terry Baptist Church in Hinds County, Mississippi. He remained there until coming to Carrollton in 1944.
Under his guidance, there were major improvements and additions to the church's physical plan; additional property was acquired and about 1,600 joined the church.
Mr. Benson's ministry extended far beyond the church sanctuary. He organized the first unit of the Extension Department of Mercer University and taught for 15 years. He helped set up the first school for the mentally retarded children in West Georgia. He was instrumental in establishing the Carroll County Mental Health Association and served as director for six years.
He served on the board that organized the first school for training practical nurses for service in local hospitals, and that program was to become a part of the curriculum at Carroll Tech. In cooperation with the Extension Department of Nashville Baptist Seminary, he organized a school for black preachers and taught the program for three years.
He also served as the moderator of the Carrollton Baptist Association, president of the Carrollton Ministerial Association and vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
He was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Student Union at West Georgia College (now University of West Georgia), which eventually led to obtaining property for the BSU facility and employment of a full time director.
Rev. Benson was active in many organizations and clubs, including the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Carrollton Rotary Club and the Carrollton Masonic Lodge.
After "retiring" in 1975, he opened a counseling office and served as interim pastor at several churches, including Centralhatchee, Flat Rock Baptist and Sargeant Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Inez Gilbert he lovingly called "Dovie" and six sisters.
Earlier that day he had served as pallbearer for his longtime friend, Rev. Ebb G. Kilpatrick, Sr., who was a former pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, who had died Saturday following an illness.
Rev. Benson served as pastor at First Baptist from July 2, 1944 until May 25, 1975, when he retired.
He was born in Attalla County, Mississippi, the sixth of seven children and the only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Riley Benson. He became a Christian at the age of 12 and preached on an informal basis after graduating high school.
He was ordained into the ministry in 1933 during his first year at Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi and received his degree there in 1937.
He graduated from New Orleans Baptist Seminary in 1941, and served at several churches before answering a call to Terry Baptist Church in Hinds County, Mississippi. He remained there until coming to Carrollton in 1944.
Under his guidance, there were major improvements and additions to the church's physical plan; additional property was acquired and about 1,600 joined the church.
Mr. Benson's ministry extended far beyond the church sanctuary. He organized the first unit of the Extension Department of Mercer University and taught for 15 years. He helped set up the first school for the mentally retarded children in West Georgia. He was instrumental in establishing the Carroll County Mental Health Association and served as director for six years.
He served on the board that organized the first school for training practical nurses for service in local hospitals, and that program was to become a part of the curriculum at Carroll Tech. In cooperation with the Extension Department of Nashville Baptist Seminary, he organized a school for black preachers and taught the program for three years.
He also served as the moderator of the Carrollton Baptist Association, president of the Carrollton Ministerial Association and vice president of the Georgia Baptist Convention.
He was instrumental in organizing the Baptist Student Union at West Georgia College (now University of West Georgia), which eventually led to obtaining property for the BSU facility and employment of a full time director.
Rev. Benson was active in many organizations and clubs, including the Boy Scouts, the Red Cross, the American Cancer Society, the Carrollton Rotary Club and the Carrollton Masonic Lodge.
After "retiring" in 1975, he opened a counseling office and served as interim pastor at several churches, including Centralhatchee, Flat Rock Baptist and Sargeant Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, the former Inez Gilbert he lovingly called "Dovie" and six sisters.
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