James Walker Benton's Obituary
It was with grace and dignity that Jim left his family and numerous friends on May 16, 2017 ending his cancer experience of nearly two years. He resided in Manhattan but spent his remaining days in Memphis. His friends and family delighted to be in his midst enjoying his unique wit and found his presence enhancing in any setting. Jim had a wide range of interests. In sports, basketball was close to the top since his days of playing on the team at Harding Academy and at Millsaps College. His time in NYC was spent as a Men’s Clothing Executive and traveled internationally. In his spare time he was a member of Toastmasters and aided others as a Life Coach. There never seemed to be a time when he was not striving for excellence in his many endeavors. Jim was born in Chattanooga on September 24, 1961 yet has resided in several states and wound up finally in New York. His parents were James Walker Benton, Sr, Sylvia Delaney Benton, a sister Carole Vorder-Bruegge (Mark, jr) aunts Donna Magwood and Janice Lusk. He was close to his niece Morgan Vorder-Bruegge and nephews Shelby Edwards and Frederick Vorder-Bruegge, III. So dear to him was Lizette Chin, his fiancé who lovingly and devotedly was at his side through his illness and sacrificed immeasurably to see that he had every advantage possible to enhance his comfort and health. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, June 3 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery. A reception will immediately follow.The services have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN 38119. “Celebrating Life….Behind the Stone Wall.”
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