A native of Greenville, SC, Mr. Bentley was the son of the late Upshaw C Bentley Sr and Emma Stansell Bentley and was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Florence Bentley; brother, Thomas Stansell Bentley and grandson, Logan Upshaw Bentley.
Mr. Bentley graduated from Athens High School in 1941 and entered the University of Georgia that fall. After spending two years there, he joined the United States Army Air Corp in 1943 and received his pilot wings in 1944. After the war and upon his return to the University of Georgia, he graduated with a BBA in 1947 and a LLB degree in 1949. While attending UGA, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Mr. Bentley was a founding member of the law firm, Fortson, Bentley, Griffin and has practiced law in Athens since 1949. He had served as the Clarke County Attorney from 1958-1970 and was Mayor of Athens from 1976-1980. Mr. Bentley was active in civic affairs having been President of Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, Athens YMCA, Athens-Clarke Community Chest, Western Bar Association, Georgia Law School Association, and other organizations. He was also President of Clarke Federal Savings and Loan Association. He was an Emeritus Trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation and former Trustee of the Georgia Baptist Foundation. Also, he was a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Truett-McConnell College. Mr. Bentley was the recipient of the 1995 UGA Abraham Baldwin Award. Recently, he was the honorary co-chairman for the Athens Community Council on Aging and was instrumental in fundraising for the Frances & Upshaw Bentley Center for Elder Care. Mr. Bentley was an active participant of the Athens Symphony Board for a number of years and a former president of the Northeast Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was an active member of First Baptist Church serving as a Deacon and former Chairman of the Board of Deacons.
Survivors include daughter, Ellen Bentley ten Haaf of Watkinsville, GA; sons, Mason Bentley and wife, Angie of Athens, GA, John S Bentley and wife, Mary of Watkinsville, GA; sister, Nancy Bentley Scruggs of Athens, GA; grandchildren, Christopher ten Haaf and wife, Theresa, Kathryn Bentley Fountain and husband, James; great-grandchildren, William Logan Fountain and Tara Leigh ten Haaf; sister-n-law, Norma Bentley of Atlanta, GA; a number of nieces and nephews, and long-time friend and caregiver, Forrest Grady Hawkins.
Funeral services will be held 11AM Monday, August 19th at First Baptist Church of Athens with Dr. Jon Appleton and Dr. Paul Baxley officiating. The family will receive friends from 3-5PM Sunday, August 18th at Bernstein Funeral Home.
Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Fortson, Bentley, and Griffin Law Firm; members of the Friday Lunch Bunch and the Jo Callaway Sunday school class.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Athens, 355 Pulaski St, Athens, GA 30601, the YMCA, 915 Hawthorne Ave, Athens, GA 30606, or to the Council on Aging, 135 Hoyt St, Athens, GA 30601.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Betty Bush and the care givers at Oconee Home Healthcare.
Online condolences may be offered at www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com
Bernstein Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
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