It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved father, BEN HILL LAWSON JR who died at approximately 1:15 PM on Thursday Nov. 3rd after being transferred to a hospice
when Ben, having battled the symptoms of Parkinson Disease since 1991, lapsed into a semi- comatose state and would not eat for two days. According to his son Matthew, "He was never in pain and did not suffer in any way."
BEN HILL Sr.was born in Hahira, Georgia, a small whistle stop town founded by his grandad who was also postaster and the first mayor after fighting in the War for Southern Independence .HEnry BRIGGS Lawson, BEn's grandfather, who he never met, was like many Rebels who rode off to defend DIXIE and the Cause against Mr.Lincoln's autocratic regime
at the age of 18. Briggs had a horse shot from beneath him during the seige
of RIchmond and participated in the surrender by Lee to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
BRIGGS wandered about Lowndes Countywith his wife Lucretia for a few years before discovering the railroad stop,which no one to this day can give the origin of the name...Hahira. BEN' s father, BEN HILL Sr. was raised in Hahira until as the family story goes, after falling off a roof, he threw down his hammerand swore he was going to be a doctor! Which he did by going North to Atlanta in 1906 garduated in 1911 from the Georgia College of ECLECTIC MEDICINE and SURGERY. BEn Sr. returned to Hahira to practice medicine and court and finaly marry a school marm named LIZZIE WILKES from TEnnessee. THe doctor and Lizzie had two children in Hahira before moving to central FLorida, Mable in 1916 and Ben Hill Jr. in 1918. "Doc" as everyone called him, was only one of two doctors servicing Winter Garden, FL.
Ben Hill Jr. was educated in the public schools of Hahira and Winter Garden. Ben Jr. became quite an athlele as tailback on the Lakeview High's football team, leadng them to an undefeated ten game season in 1935.In one game he ran 180yards for 3 touchdowns inspite of a body that was only 5 foot six inches and weighed 132 pounds.IN those days small schools were forced to have players go 'both ways'... play both offense and defense.Ben was a defensive back in that 1935 Championship season , his team shut out 6 of their 10 opponents, Ben spent a partial year at UNiversity of Florida before marrying ADELE MARY JAPOUR, the daughter of an immigrant Lebanese family, my other grandparents, SHAban Japour and AGNES FRANCIS, who lived in Jacksonville, a port city with a natural harbor that the clannish arab families seemded abndcworkfoBen Hill was a storekeeeper's mate in the Navy during WWII. AFter the war years Ben worked for the Jax Terminal Company, which was in charge of shipping baggage and especially mail by rail. BEN HILL was a foreman and played outfield for the semi-pro baseball team the company sponsored.
The basebal team,went to the National tournaments, and in 1949 was voted "the best dressed
baseball club" at the tournament. During those years my brother MAtt and I had our own hero living in our home. Ben HIll was a man who was always not just on time, but early to apppointments. He tried his best to get one of his sons into a career as a sports pro..tennis, golf or baseballl were his favorites. HE raised two competitive young men who were not as talented as their father.
SENSE OF HUMOR
Ben HILL also had a sense of humor and was a skilled carpenter. He and wife ADELE built a
lake house with an orange grove and watermelons assisted by the two boys, After retiring from the JAX TERMINAL COMPANY, he took on a position with the US POSTAL SERVICE's BMC.
Ben HIll Jr. was a working man. HIs entire working life,he held jobs with only two employers. He was a loyal husband to hiswfe of 60 years, Adele,and set an example for his sons.
We always gave him a bad time, accusing him of being led around by his strong willed wife. Once I asked him: "Are you a man or a mouse?" He shot back:"Pass the cheese!"
. His main goal in life was to see that his two boys got an education, which they did.. Matt after a two year stint in the US NAVY graduated from Westren Carolina UNIversity in EDucation and Mickey in four straight years claimed his BS IN Broadcast Journalism in 1964.
HIs only vice was a beer or two after a rousing round of golf. Itshould have stopped right there,but Ben Hill continued to play a steady gameof golf against determined competitors at the local club level into his retirement years until Parkinson's Disease ruined his game.
Funeral arrangements for TUESDAY AT 10 am
Graveside services will be held this TUesday the 8th of November at Arlington Park
Cemetery with a few words spoken by long time friend RIck HULL.
Survivors include his two sons, MAtt of Jacksonville, and MIckey of Lawrencevile,GA, his brother ,CARLTON and sister, Mable of ORLando and their families.
May the LORD have mercy on this good man's soul
when Ben, having battled the symptoms of Parkinson Disease since 1991, lapsed into a semi- comatose state and would not eat for two days. According to his son Matthew, "He was never in pain and did not suffer in any way."
BEN HILL Sr.was born in Hahira, Georgia, a small whistle stop town founded by his grandad who was also postaster and the first mayor after fighting in the War for Southern Independence .HEnry BRIGGS Lawson, BEn's grandfather, who he never met, was like many Rebels who rode off to defend DIXIE and the Cause against Mr.Lincoln's autocratic regime
at the age of 18. Briggs had a horse shot from beneath him during the seige
of RIchmond and participated in the surrender by Lee to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
BRIGGS wandered about Lowndes Countywith his wife Lucretia for a few years before discovering the railroad stop,which no one to this day can give the origin of the name...Hahira. BEN' s father, BEN HILL Sr. was raised in Hahira until as the family story goes, after falling off a roof, he threw down his hammerand swore he was going to be a doctor! Which he did by going North to Atlanta in 1906 garduated in 1911 from the Georgia College of ECLECTIC MEDICINE and SURGERY. BEn Sr. returned to Hahira to practice medicine and court and finaly marry a school marm named LIZZIE WILKES from TEnnessee. THe doctor and Lizzie had two children in Hahira before moving to central FLorida, Mable in 1916 and Ben Hill Jr. in 1918. "Doc" as everyone called him, was only one of two doctors servicing Winter Garden, FL.
Ben Hill Jr. was educated in the public schools of Hahira and Winter Garden. Ben Jr. became quite an athlele as tailback on the Lakeview High's football team, leadng them to an undefeated ten game season in 1935.In one game he ran 180yards for 3 touchdowns inspite of a body that was only 5 foot six inches and weighed 132 pounds.IN those days small schools were forced to have players go 'both ways'... play both offense and defense.Ben was a defensive back in that 1935 Championship season , his team shut out 6 of their 10 opponents, Ben spent a partial year at UNiversity of Florida before marrying ADELE MARY JAPOUR, the daughter of an immigrant Lebanese family, my other grandparents, SHAban Japour and AGNES FRANCIS, who lived in Jacksonville, a port city with a natural harbor that the clannish arab families seemded abndcworkfoBen Hill was a storekeeeper's mate in the Navy during WWII. AFter the war years Ben worked for the Jax Terminal Company, which was in charge of shipping baggage and especially mail by rail. BEN HILL was a foreman and played outfield for the semi-pro baseball team the company sponsored.
The basebal team,went to the National tournaments, and in 1949 was voted "the best dressed
baseball club" at the tournament. During those years my brother MAtt and I had our own hero living in our home. Ben HIll was a man who was always not just on time, but early to apppointments. He tried his best to get one of his sons into a career as a sports pro..tennis, golf or baseballl were his favorites. HE raised two competitive young men who were not as talented as their father.
SENSE OF HUMOR
Ben HILL also had a sense of humor and was a skilled carpenter. He and wife ADELE built a
lake house with an orange grove and watermelons assisted by the two boys, After retiring from the JAX TERMINAL COMPANY, he took on a position with the US POSTAL SERVICE's BMC.
Ben HIll Jr. was a working man. HIs entire working life,he held jobs with only two employers. He was a loyal husband to hiswfe of 60 years, Adele,and set an example for his sons.
We always gave him a bad time, accusing him of being led around by his strong willed wife. Once I asked him: "Are you a man or a mouse?" He shot back:"Pass the cheese!"
. His main goal in life was to see that his two boys got an education, which they did.. Matt after a two year stint in the US NAVY graduated from Westren Carolina UNIversity in EDucation and Mickey in four straight years claimed his BS IN Broadcast Journalism in 1964.
HIs only vice was a beer or two after a rousing round of golf. Itshould have stopped right there,but Ben Hill continued to play a steady gameof golf against determined competitors at the local club level into his retirement years until Parkinson's Disease ruined his game.
Funeral arrangements for TUESDAY AT 10 am
Graveside services will be held this TUesday the 8th of November at Arlington Park
Cemetery with a few words spoken by long time friend RIck HULL.
Survivors include his two sons, MAtt of Jacksonville, and MIckey of Lawrencevile,GA, his brother ,CARLTON and sister, Mable of ORLando and their families.
May the LORD have mercy on this good man's soul
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved father, BEN HILL LAWSON JR who died at approximately 1:15 PM on Thursday Nov. 3rd after being transferred to a hospice
when Ben, having battled the symptoms of Parkinson Disease since 1991, lapsed into a semi- comatose state and would not eat for two days. According to his son Matthew, "He was never in pain and did not suffer in any way."
BEN HILL Sr.was born in Hahira, Georgia, a small whistle stop town founded by his grandad who was also postaster and the first mayor after fighting in the War for Southern Independence .HEnry BRIGGS Lawson, BEn's grandfather, who he never met, was like many Rebels who rode off to defend DIXIE and the Cause against Mr.Lincoln's autocratic regime
at the age of 18. Briggs had a horse shot from beneath him during the seige
of RIchmond and participated in the surrender by Lee to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
BRIGGS wandered about Lowndes Countywith his wife Lucretia for a few years before discovering the railroad stop,which no one to this day can give the origin of the name...Hahira. BEN' s father, BEN HILL Sr. was raised in Hahira until as the family story goes, after falling off a roof, he threw down his hammerand swore he was going to be a doctor! Which he did by going North to Atlanta in 1906 garduated in 1911 from the Georgia College of ECLECTIC MEDICINE and SURGERY. BEn Sr. returned to Hahira to practice medicine and court and finaly marry a school marm named LIZZIE WILKES from TEnnessee. THe doctor and Lizzie had two children in Hahira before moving to central FLorida, Mable in 1916 and Ben Hill Jr. in 1918. "Doc" as everyone called him, was only one of two doctors servicing Winter Garden, FL.
Ben Hill Jr. was educated in the public schools of Hahira and Winter Garden. Ben Jr. became quite an athlele as tailback on the Lakeview High's football team, leadng them to an undefeated ten game season in 1935.In one game he ran 180yards for 3 touchdowns inspite of a body that was only 5 foot six inches and weighed 132 pounds.IN those days small schools were forced to have players go 'both ways'... play both offense and defense.Ben was a defensive back in that 1935 Championship season , his team shut out 6 of their 10 opponents, Ben spent a partial year at UNiversity of Florida before marrying ADELE MARY JAPOUR, the daughter of an immigrant Lebanese family, my other grandparents, SHAban Japour and AGNES FRANCIS, who lived in Jacksonville, a port city with a natural harbor that the clannish arab families seemded abndcworkfoBen Hill was a storekeeeper's mate in the Navy during WWII. AFter the war years Ben worked for the Jax Terminal Company, which was in charge of shipping baggage and especially mail by rail. BEN HILL was a foreman and played outfield for the semi-pro baseball team the company sponsored.
The basebal team,went to the National tournaments, and in 1949 was voted "the best dressed
baseball club" at the tournament. During those years my brother MAtt and I had our own hero living in our home. Ben HIll was a man who was always not just on time, but early to apppointments. He tried his best to get one of his sons into a career as a sports pro..tennis, golf or baseballl were his favorites. HE raised two competitive young men who were not as talented as their father.
SENSE OF HUMOR
Ben HILL also had a sense of humor and was a skilled carpenter. He and wife ADELE built a
lake house with an orange grove and watermelons assisted by the two boys, After retiring from the JAX TERMINAL COMPANY, he took on a position with the US POSTAL SERVICE's BMC.
Ben HIll Jr. was a working man. HIs entire working life,he held jobs with only two employers. He was a loyal husband to hiswfe of 60 years, Adele,and set an example for his sons.
We always gave him a bad time, accusing him of being led around by his strong willed wife. Once I asked him: "Are you a man or a mouse?" He shot back:"Pass the cheese!"
. His main goal in life was to see that his two boys got an education, which they did.. Matt after a two year stint in the US NAVY graduated from Westren Carolina UNIversity in EDucation and Mickey in four straight years claimed his BS IN Broadcast Journalism in 1964.
HIs only vice was a beer or two after a rousing round of golf. Itshould have stopped right there,but Ben Hill continued to play a steady gameof golf against determined competitors at the local club level into his retirement years until Parkinson's Disease ruined his game.
Funeral arrangements for TUESDAY AT 10 am
Graveside services will be held this TUesday the 8th of November at Arlington Park
Cemetery with a few words spoken by long time friend RIck HULL.
Survivors include his two sons, MAtt of Jacksonville, and MIckey of Lawrencevile,GA, his brother ,CARLTON and sister, Mable of ORLando and their families.
May the LORD have mercy on this good man's soul
when Ben, having battled the symptoms of Parkinson Disease since 1991, lapsed into a semi- comatose state and would not eat for two days. According to his son Matthew, "He was never in pain and did not suffer in any way."
BEN HILL Sr.was born in Hahira, Georgia, a small whistle stop town founded by his grandad who was also postaster and the first mayor after fighting in the War for Southern Independence .HEnry BRIGGS Lawson, BEn's grandfather, who he never met, was like many Rebels who rode off to defend DIXIE and the Cause against Mr.Lincoln's autocratic regime
at the age of 18. Briggs had a horse shot from beneath him during the seige
of RIchmond and participated in the surrender by Lee to Grant at Appomattox Courthouse.
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR
BRIGGS wandered about Lowndes Countywith his wife Lucretia for a few years before discovering the railroad stop,which no one to this day can give the origin of the name...Hahira. BEN' s father, BEN HILL Sr. was raised in Hahira until as the family story goes, after falling off a roof, he threw down his hammerand swore he was going to be a doctor! Which he did by going North to Atlanta in 1906 garduated in 1911 from the Georgia College of ECLECTIC MEDICINE and SURGERY. BEn Sr. returned to Hahira to practice medicine and court and finaly marry a school marm named LIZZIE WILKES from TEnnessee. THe doctor and Lizzie had two children in Hahira before moving to central FLorida, Mable in 1916 and Ben Hill Jr. in 1918. "Doc" as everyone called him, was only one of two doctors servicing Winter Garden, FL.
Ben Hill Jr. was educated in the public schools of Hahira and Winter Garden. Ben Jr. became quite an athlele as tailback on the Lakeview High's football team, leadng them to an undefeated ten game season in 1935.In one game he ran 180yards for 3 touchdowns inspite of a body that was only 5 foot six inches and weighed 132 pounds.IN those days small schools were forced to have players go 'both ways'... play both offense and defense.Ben was a defensive back in that 1935 Championship season , his team shut out 6 of their 10 opponents, Ben spent a partial year at UNiversity of Florida before marrying ADELE MARY JAPOUR, the daughter of an immigrant Lebanese family, my other grandparents, SHAban Japour and AGNES FRANCIS, who lived in Jacksonville, a port city with a natural harbor that the clannish arab families seemded abndcworkfoBen Hill was a storekeeeper's mate in the Navy during WWII. AFter the war years Ben worked for the Jax Terminal Company, which was in charge of shipping baggage and especially mail by rail. BEN HILL was a foreman and played outfield for the semi-pro baseball team the company sponsored.
The basebal team,went to the National tournaments, and in 1949 was voted "the best dressed
baseball club" at the tournament. During those years my brother MAtt and I had our own hero living in our home. Ben HIll was a man who was always not just on time, but early to apppointments. He tried his best to get one of his sons into a career as a sports pro..tennis, golf or baseballl were his favorites. HE raised two competitive young men who were not as talented as their father.
SENSE OF HUMOR
Ben HILL also had a sense of humor and was a skilled carpenter. He and wife ADELE built a
lake house with an orange grove and watermelons assisted by the two boys, After retiring from the JAX TERMINAL COMPANY, he took on a position with the US POSTAL SERVICE's BMC.
Ben HIll Jr. was a working man. HIs entire working life,he held jobs with only two employers. He was a loyal husband to hiswfe of 60 years, Adele,and set an example for his sons.
We always gave him a bad time, accusing him of being led around by his strong willed wife. Once I asked him: "Are you a man or a mouse?" He shot back:"Pass the cheese!"
. His main goal in life was to see that his two boys got an education, which they did.. Matt after a two year stint in the US NAVY graduated from Westren Carolina UNIversity in EDucation and Mickey in four straight years claimed his BS IN Broadcast Journalism in 1964.
HIs only vice was a beer or two after a rousing round of golf. Itshould have stopped right there,but Ben Hill continued to play a steady gameof golf against determined competitors at the local club level into his retirement years until Parkinson's Disease ruined his game.
Funeral arrangements for TUESDAY AT 10 am
Graveside services will be held this TUesday the 8th of November at Arlington Park
Cemetery with a few words spoken by long time friend RIck HULL.
Survivors include his two sons, MAtt of Jacksonville, and MIckey of Lawrencevile,GA, his brother ,CARLTON and sister, Mable of ORLando and their families.
May the LORD have mercy on this good man's soul
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