Obie Folsom Benton

Obie Benton, age 93, a resident of Honoraville, Alabama passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, March 30th, 2026. A funeral service will be held for Obie at 2 PM on Wednesday, April 1st, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Minister Danny Taylor officiating. Interment will follow in Berea Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service.

Obie lived a life that didn't fit neatly into one box. He served as a Fire Captain for the City of Montgomery, worked as a commercial builder for the City of Nashville, and later as a real estate agent and broker in Florida. He also served as city manager for the town of Temple Terrace, Florida. Somewhere along the way, he even found time to own a newspaper in Tennessee...because one career just wasn't enough.

He was also a pastor who helped build and grow congregations not only in Tennessee, but as far away as Africa. His faith was a guiding force in his life, and he shared it widely, authoring more than 30 religious books, along with two non-fiction works and a book of poetry.

But beyond the titles and accomplishments, Obie was simply a man who loved people. He never met a stranger, and if you stood still long enough, he'd probably tell you a story-one that was worth hearing. He was outgoing, thoughtful, and had a brilliant mind that forever stayed curious about the world around him.

He also loved to travel, especially to the Smoky Mountains, and he had a lifelong love of music. In his younger years, he played guitar and even had his own band back in his mid-20s. He was also an avid reader and someone who truly believed in living life to the fullest.

Obie was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie D. and Johnnie Freeman Benton; and his siblings, Hubert S. (Imogen) Benton, Charles R. (Maybel) Benton, Harry Wayne (Shirley) Benton, Verma Jewel (G.W.) Sexton, Mary (Billy) Defee, and Betty Jo (Ray) Mims.

He is survived by his loving wife of 73 years, Mary Rebel Bennett Benton; his daughter, Sharon Benton; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends who all have their own story about him, which is fitting, because Obie usually had one ready to tell first.

In lieu of flowers or food, the family requests that memorial donations be made either to the Honoraville Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Robert McGough, 6305 Honoraville Road, Honoraville, Alabama 36042, or one's favorite charity