Ben G. Porter Jr.

MACON – Benjamin George Porter, Jr., one of the Founders of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, died on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at the age of seventy-seven. Mr. Porter was born on August 18, 1933 in Valdosta, Georgia to Benjamin George Porter and Mamie Boothe Porter. At the age of fifteen, he began his career as a radio host for a Valdosta radio station. Later, moving to Macon, he continued his radio career and owned several stations. He was the President of Charter Medical International and Senior Vice-President of Charter Medical Corporation.

Mr. Porter served with numerous Boards and Authorities with the State of Georgia. He was the past Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority and a former Chairman of the Georgia Board of Natural Resources. He also served on the Georgia Advisory Council for the Trust for Public Land. Mr. Porter was a leader in numerous Macon organizations. Some of his significant activities included the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail Executive Committee, Trustee of Mercer University, and President of Macon Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Vineville Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Hazel Hiers Porter; his son, Ben G. “Skeet” Porter, III of Athens, GA; his brother, John Porter and his wife, In-Hi of Heidelberg, Germany; his sister-in-law, Paula Porter of Victorville, CA and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Bill Porter of Victorville, CA and his sister, Margaret Lee of Atlanta.

Funeral services will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at Vineville Baptist Church, 2591 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA with the Rev. Tripp Martin officiating. Burial will be private. The family will receive visitors at a Celebration of Ben Porter’s Life from 4 – 6 PM on October 2, 2010 at Carlyle Place, 5300 Zebulon Road, Macon, GA 31210. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, 479 Cherry Street, Macon, GA 31201 and to Hospice of Central Georgia, 6261 Peake Road, Macon, GA 31210.

Visit www.snowsmacon.com to express condolences.

Snow’s Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Services, Cherry Street has charge of arrangements.