William Benton McKenzie

Benton McKenzie was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Cordova, NC and grew up in Rockingham, NC. The son of the late Frank L. and Annie McKenzie, he graduated from Rockingham High School, then served in the Air Force during the Korean War before graduating from North Carolina State University with a degree in Forestry. He was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

After college, he began his nearly 60-year career as a forester in Rome, Ga. where he met and married his wife of 50 years, the late Sue Franklin McKenzie of Rome, Ga. Together they had two sons, Neel and John McKenzie. After returning to Rome from Swainsboro, Ga. in 1988, Benton stayed active through work and playing golf with friends at Stonebridge Golf Club. He was a proud member of Rome First Methodist Church and the Senior Adult Sunday School Class. He was a 35-year cancer survivor.

Family survivors include his two sons, Col. Neel McKenzie (USMC), his wife, Lisa and their children- Cristen, Casie, and Connor of Stafford, VA, and John and Mary McKenzie of St. Simons Island, GA., and his sister, Betty Rohleder, of Marietta, GA, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 8, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Rome First Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Robert Brown officiating. This service will be preceded by a visitation of family and friends in the Wilder Center at the church from 1 until 2 p.m. A private interment will take place earlier at Sunset Hill Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Rome First Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave., Rome, GA. 30161.