Billy Thomas Bennett was born on June 7th 1930, and he received his reward on May 23rd, 2024.  Funeral services will be held at Antioch Church of Christ in Spearsville.  A visitation will be held on Sunday, May 26th from 5:00-8:00PM, and funeral services will be on Monday, May 27th at 10:AM.  Pallbearers will be  Colby Bennett, Connor Bennett, Clay Butler, Garett Hatton, Michael McCarty, James Butler, Grayson Hatton, Bentley Albritton, and Oliver McCarty.  Honorary pallbearers are the men of Antioch Church Christ, as well as his "Coffee Klatch" friends from Taylortown University.

He is preceded in death by his parents - Thomas J. and Annabelle Risinger Bennett; siblings James Daniel (J.D) Bennett, Ruthelle Bennett Jerry Davidson, John C. (Coy) Bennett, Floy Bennett Wade, Ralph J. Bennett, and their spouses; and two granddaughters - Sarah Anderson and Michaela Bennett.

His legacy survives thru his wife of almost 72 years, Frances Flynn Bennett; four children - Billy Kent Bennett, Joye Bennett Neely (Hal), Tommy J. Bennett (Beth), Paul J. Bennett (Tonya), all of Spearsville; his brother Frankie D. Bennett (Erma), sisters in law Billie Jean Flynn Colvin and Bonita Flynn Brandt; five grandchildren -  Lauren Anderson Butler (Clay), Linden Anderson Hatton (Garett), Evelyn Bennett McCarty (Michael), Colby Bennett (Makayla), Connor Bennett; great grandchildren - Eva Wheeler, James Butler, Grayson Hatton, Landry Hatton, Bentley Albritton, Hallie Bennett, Presley Bennett, and Oliver McCarty.

Daddy grew up on a farm in the Antioch community near Spearsville, and graduated Spearsville High School.  The values he learned from hard work became a mainstay in his life and would remain with him until the very end.  At the age of seventeen he began a five year term of service in both the Army and Air Force, serving in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Illinois.  During his service he would come home to visit as often as possible.  On one particular visit he met our mother, when she and a friend who was also a cousin of Daddy's visited worship services at Antioch.  Apparently they "hit it off" and continued to date.  After leaving the military in early 1952, they were married that same year on June 27th.  Soon after, they bought a farm which bordered where he had grown up.  Daddy loved the farm and would tell you that even if he had the power to do so, he wouldn't move their home one foot in any direction.  There were always cattle on the farm, and in 1970, he and Mama built chicken houses.  He worked more than twenty years for Lion Oil Refinery before retiring in 1974 to farm full time.  Daddy retired from the poultry industry in 1998 and the cattle business in 2005.

Daddy loved our community and was well respected in it.  He was known to be one who could always be counted on.  His Christian influence was felt by many.  He loved his family dearly and you would never hear him refer to anyone as a "distant cousin."  If you were related to him, you were considered very special.  He loved family history and if there was a question involving genealogy, he could fill you in.

The older his children get, we now realize just how important the values he instilled in us are.  Just a few of which are hard work, loyalty, discipline, honesty, but above all was our being faithful.

Daddy's greatest joy was in his service to the Lord's Church.  No one could ever doubt his love for the Lord.  To the best of his ability he lived everyday as a faithful child of God.  He lovingly served as an Elder at Antioch Church of Christ for over 50 years.  I had the pleasure of serving beside him as fellow Elder for these last nineteen years.  The counsel daddy gave will be missed by many, and I am certainly one of that number.  He always did his best to influence and help develop young and older men alike, encouraging them to become leaders that are so needed in the church today.  He would often inspire young moms and dads to attend worship with their children, reassuring them it was their first and most important responsibility as parents. He stressed to every age that being "found faithful" was key, and would remind everyone of its importance by quoting, "What does it profit a man if he should gain the world yet lose his soul."  Even though it's been a few years since he was last able to teach publicly, Daddy continued to speak meaningful lessons by the life he lived, right up until the end.

We look forward to seeing you once again, and the most blessed part will be that the reunion will take place in the presence of the Lord.  Servant of God, well done!  Until we meet again Daddy!  For your family, Tommy

If someone would like to honor him with a memorial gift, you may send to; Antioch Cemetery Fund 445 Crip Mason Road Spearsville, LA. 71277