David L. Benson

David L. Benson was born October 7, 1947, to Lula Viola Payne in Waycross, Georgia on Railroad Street. His mother died on September 9, 1957, when he was 9 years old. Coincidentally, his mother’s mother and David’s grandmother, also died on September 9th when she was 9 years old. David was raised in the old family house that was built by his family. After the death of his mother, he had two caretakers there - his mother’s sister, Ruth Inez Payne Hunter Thomas, deceased September 9, 2002, and his great grandmother, Mary Jane Middleton Wilkerson, a former slave and the matriarch of his family. David remembers her well and very fondly. He considered the death of his great grandmother, also on September 9, 1964, to be the most important event of his childhood and when his childhood ended.

David is survived by his wife, Helen M. Berger. David and Helen were constant companions and had been together for 44 years. Coincidentally, Helen’s birthday is October 8th. Since David was born on October 7th, they made it a holiday celebration called “48 Ours.” It became their favorite holiday.

For 26 years, David served as the director of programs and special projects for El Franco Lee in the Office of the Commissioner of Harris County Precinct One. Since his retirement from that post in March 2016, he proudly continued his more than 40 years of public service as Vice-Chair of the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). His past service included boards and advisory boards that address a wide range of educational, social, health, art and environmental issues in Houston, Texas and the United States including the Rothko Chapel, the Hermann Park Conservancy, Cultural Arts Council of Houston, the Homeless Coalition of Houston, the Ryan White Council-HIV/AIDS, President’s Advisory Council, University of Houston/Downtown, the Archaeological Institute of America, and the Manager of the Blues Legend, Sam “Lightnin’” Hopkins.

David received his B.A. degree from the University of Houston where he was awarded the Joseph S. Werlin Fellowship for Academic Achievement. Also, he was a Doctoral Fellow in Comparative Sociology in the Departments of Sociology and Psychiatry at Michigan State University and achieved advanced study in sociology at the New School for Social Research.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he served as a social worker for the State of Texas in the areas of civil rights and protective services for the elderly and disabled. In 1989, he was chosen as Mental Health Professional Leader of the Year by the Houston-based Coalition for Mental Illness Awareness, and the Houston Mayor Bob Lanier declared October 7, 1992, as David L. Benson Day presented to him by the legendary actor Debbie Reynolds. From 1993 until 2000, he served as a gubernatorial appointee to the Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities in Austin. In 2015, he was awarded an honorary diploma for his contribution to education in Mexico by the Justo Sierra Institute for Superior Studies.

David and Helen delivered 23 presentations and papers in Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Cuba, Canada, Mexico, and the United States on the global need for and development of quality educational opportunities for all children. David has written articles, been interviewed and included in books and media on a cross-section of topics like saving the Houston Montrose live oak trees, the Oral History Project of HIV/AIDS at Rice University, America Beyond Capitalism-a discussion with Gar Alperovitz, Civil Rights Today panelist with Howard Zinn and other numerous interviews and publications on Blues music.

David was a Decorated Vietnam Combat Veteran who earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and other medals as Sergeant in the United States Air Force. He had Classified Duties – Top Secret Cryptographic Clearance and Airborne Status. He served August 4, 1966 until Honorably Discharged July 10, 1970.

David is also survived by his daughter, Michon Anita Benson, granddaughter, Zinsule Benson, brothers-in-law, Richard Berger, Ronald Berger and Jack Ameis; sister-in-law, Barbara Ameis; first cousin, Jacquelyn Juanita Cobb who is like his sister, cousins Calvin Payne, Dorothy Loretta and Derrick Thompson, Helene Awin and her family, Peter Weschler and family and a host of nieces and nephews.

David was extremely fortunate to have many close friends – far too many to name. He maintained his friendships with his classmates from Center High School in Waycross; had a big group of friends called “Friends for Life” that he met at the University of Houston in the early 1970s; and good friends from his graduate school days at Michigan State University in the 1970s.

David passed away quickly and peacefully at home in Buenos Aires, Argentina with Helen by his side after a perfect day that he planned for them and fully enjoyed. Surely, he would consider that a strong finish to a life well lived. Since his retirement nine years ago or “liberation,” annually David and Helen have spent months at a time living in various cities and countries: Acapulco, New York, London, Cannes, Seville, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires.

David L. Benson was one of those rare individuals you met and liked right away. He was clever, had a good sense of humor, and always knew what to say and when to say it. He was a thinker, writer, and very caring human being who never placed himself above others. David was a very, very contented man. Every single day he expressed his gratitude and felt extremely fortunate to have lived such an amazing, full life.

In lieu of flowers, Houston Preparatory Academy is accepting contributions for the benefit of the David L. Benson Memorial Education Fund.

Please remit payments through our preferred method Zelle. (Scan Zelle QR code below; Scroll down)

Or mail contributions to Houston Preparatory Academy

3262 Westheimer Rd. #321

Houston, TX. 77098

If you need alternative methods to process a contribution, please contact Helen Berger directly at [email protected]