By Staff
HOOKERTON: Mr. Clyde Henry Benner, Sr., passed away Wednesday evening, April 18, 2007 at his residence. Mr. Benner was born January 26, 1927 the son of the late, John Samuel Benner, Sr. and the late, Virginia Dare Etheridge Benner. Reared in Washington, N.C., he earned his Eagle Scout and received the Silver Beaver Award all as young man. Mr. Benner was a veteran of the United States Army serving during WWII and was injured while in service. In 1951, he graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, S.C. where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. Following college, he began a career in public service and health care administration that would span outside of North Carolina and last until the later years of his life. Mr. Benner entered retirement in 1984 after having held the position of Administrator for Dorothea Dix Hospital. During his career he became very active in state government and served on the Board of Directors for the State Employees Credit Union as well as the President of SEANC from 1967-1968. In 1984 he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, which is one of the most prestigious awards given by the Governor, for his meritorious service to the state of North Carolina. Following retirement, Mr. Benner remained very active in civic affairs and served as Chairman of the Greene County Democratic Party and also as Chairman of the Greene County Board of Elections. He and his wife spent several of their retirement years in Brunswick County where Mr. Benner was instrumental in establishing a very successful free clinic that is still in operation today. Most recently, they returned to Greene County and made their home in the Hookerton community.
A Memorial Service celebrating his life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at the chapel of Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service, 117 NW Third St, Snow Hill, NC. Reverend Jim Tosto will officiate the service.
Mr. Benner is survived by his wife of 27 years, Charlene Carraway Benner of the home; children, Clyde Henry (Chuck) Benner, Jr. and wife, Linda of Franklinton, David Blake (Buck) Benner and wife, Dawn of White Oak, Susan Benner Lamb and husband, Morgan of San Antonio, TX and Ed Hargrove and wife, Natalie of Hookerton; grandchildren, Andrea Green of Cary, Joshua Benner and wife, Taylor of Wilson, Chris Roberson of FL, Keli Roberson of Chicago and Rebecca Lane Hargrove of Hookerton; a great-grandchild, Hunter Benner; mother-in-law, Ella Liverman of Hookerton; and father-in-law, Brembery Carraway and wife, Edna of Deep Run.
The family will receive friends immediately following the service on Saturday and other times at the residence, 890 Oakes Road, Hookerton, NC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hookerton UMC Building Fund, PO Box 10, Hookerton, NC 28538 or to the Arthritis Foundation.
Arrangements by Taylor-Tyson Funeral Service, Snow Hill, N.C.
Paid Obituary