Charles Bennett

Mr. Charles Russell Bennett passed away unexpectedly on January 23, 2024, at the age of 90. Services for Mr. Bennett will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Bainbridge, Georgia. Serving as pallbearers will be Dr. John Bennett, Dr. Paul Bennett, James Bennett, Jeb Bennett, Daniel Bennett and Autry Ross. The Barraca Sunday School class will serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service beginning at 1:00 pm in the sanctuary. Charles (known affectionately as “Buddy” by family) was born in a log house to Corene and Jeff Bennett on June 23, 1933. He attended West Bainbridge High School and graduated in 1950 - back when high school ended at 11th grade. He joined the United States Army shortly thereafter and served with the occupation forces in Germany during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in Frankfurt, Germany, he worked in cryptography monitoring Russian transmissions during the early days of the Cold War. After leaving the Army, he used the GI Bill to attend Wake Forest University and Georgia Southern College where he graduated with a BS in Education as well as a Masters degree in Administration. Years later, he obtained his 6 year certificate in School Psychology. Charles taught at multiple educational institutions including Hopeful High School, West Bainbridge High School, Radium Springs Junior High School in Albany and then as a school psychologist back in Bainbridge until retirement in 1997. In the church, he served as a Deacon with many church bodies including First Baptist Church of Albany, Fellowship Baptist Church near Spring Creek as well as Morningside Baptist Church and First Baptist Church in the city of Bainbridge. He continued to teach Sunday School, only recently giving up that responsibility after over 35 years of teaching. Charles enjoyed traveling. His idea of a family vacation was always centered around education, and it invariably seemed to include a small car, a Motel 6, and plenty of spam which was usually consumed on a concrete picnic table in the middle of nowhere. During these trips, his sons remember his frustration with their misbehavior - including their propensity to sleep through what he believed was choice scenery. He loved to grow things and always had a garden. In later years he particularly enjoyed growing flowers. Charles is survived by his wife of 60 years, Virginia Claire Seymour Bennett formerly of Alapaha, as well as his 2 sons, John Charles Bennett (Patricia) of Leesburg, GA, and Paul Jefferson Bennett (Jenice) of Lynchburg, VA. He has three grandsons - Jeb, James, and Daniel. His only granddaughter is Shelby. He was recently blessed with two great grandsons - Silas and Samson. He was preceded in death by both of his parents as well as his sister, Carolyn Bennett Hilton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, North Carolina 28607 On-line condolences may be sent at www.coxfuneral.net Cox Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.