Edward Benton

Edward Benton is survived by his Daughter, Geneine (Whiteman); Grandsons, Drew, Scott & Damon (Curry); Granddaughter, Robin (Curry); And an extensive extended family that include Son-in-Law, John Whiteman; 4 step Grandchildren; Carrissa, Johnny, Sonia & Roxanne; 3 Granddaughter-in-laws, Brenda (Anderson), Linda (Curry) & Yvonne (Whiteman); 19 Great-Grandchildren & 5 Great - Great Grandchildren.

I saw this poem in my Grandpas apartment

and if Grandpa could talk to us today,

I believe he would say...

I AM FREE

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free

I'm following the path God laid for me.

I took His hand when I heard Him call;

I turned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play.

Tasks left undone must stay that way;

I found that place at the close of day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy.

A friendship shared a laugh, a kiss;

Ah yes, these things, I, too, will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.

My life's been full, I savored much;

Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.

Perhaps my time seems all to brief;

Don't lengthen it now with undue grief.

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free

Let us be happy for Grandpas freedom...

I Have a short story hanging in my home that reminds

me of my Grandpa and I would like to share it... Some of

you may know it...

One day, a wise man was walking along the ocean shore. He

looked down the beach and saw a human figure moving like a

dancer. He smiled to himself.

As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that

of a young man, and that he was not dancing at all.

The young man was reaching down to the shore, picking up

small objects, and throwing them into the ocean.

He came closer still and called out "Good morning! May

I ask what it is that you are doing?"

The young man paused, looked up, and replied "Throwing

starfish into the ocean."

"I must ask, then, why are you throwing starfish into

the ocean?" asked the somewhat startled wise man.

To this, the young man replied, "The sun is up and the

tide is going out. If I don't throw them in, they'll die."

Upon hearing this, the wise man commented, "But, young

man, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of

beach and there are starfish all along every mile? You

can't possibly make a difference!"

At this, the young man bent down, picked up yet

another starfish, and threw it into the ocean. As it met

the water, he said, "I made a difference to that one!"

I know my Grandpa has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of people. From the Schools, Church's & workshops he help build in Africa, to the many keepsakes and crosses that he handcrafted in his spare time through-out his life.

How did my Grandpa make a difference in Your life?

Please share...

Some people knew him as Edward Jesse Benton. Some knew him as Ed or Mr. Benton or simply as the kind man that made their cross! You knew He was a man who lived his life giving to those in Need. However you knew him... You knew only good things of him.

I knew him as 'Grandpa'. It's the only thing I have ever called him. I have always been very proud to call him Grandpa. But, he was much more than my Grandpa, he was a teacher, a father figure & a best friend. I was very lucky to grow up fairly close to my Grandpa. I have many great memories growing up with him, working with him over the years and our many talks of the 'old days'. I believe I learned how to be a better person every time I was around my Grandpa. I could always look up to my Grandpa.

My Grandpa was the kind of man I always wanted to become! He helped shape me into the man I am today. Some of the things Grandpa would say, is... "Don't ever fight, no one ever wins a fight" and "You should enjoy life & have fun!" & "Be kind to one another".

Grandpas favorite pasttime was working with wood! My Grandpa was humble, but he was a 'Wood Craftsman Extraordinaire'! He had an extraordinary talent of turning wood into Beautiful Art in the form of lamps, tables, cabinets, keep sake chests & hundreds and hundreds of handcrafted crosses that are now All over the World!

Grandpa had an incredibly huge heart! He loved sharing his talent! He loved life! He loved his family! He was Dearly Loved by All who met him and will Truly be missed!

Rest In Peace Grandpa! We Love you!

Please give Grandma a Hug for us!

Please make an entry into Ed's online guestbook located at this site.