Obituary for James Linear Bennett
James L. Bennett Obituary
08/24/1938 - 12/29/2020
James (Jim)L. Bennett, age 82, passed away peacefully at home on December 29, 2020, with his daughter Leigh and wife Yvonne at his side. James was the only child of Clarence L. Bennett, a home builder, and Mary Leigh Chapman Bennett, a high school English teacher. Jim was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Ludowici, Georgia and attended school in Ludowici, graduating in 1956. He attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, graduating in 1960. Upon graduation as a distinguished military graduate (DMG), he accepted a Regular Army Commission and served on Active duty for over 29 years, retiring in 1989, with the rank of Colonel. Col. Bennett was awarded the Army Aircraft Crew Member Badge, two Legion of Merit Awards, two Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, The Air Medals, The Army Commendation Medal, The National Defense Medal, two Vietnam Service Medals, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Army Overseas Service Medal & Ribbon, The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Col. Bennett received a graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1973 with a 4.0 GPA, attaining an MBA.
His USA career took him all over the world, his least favorite assignment being Korea and his favorite Hawaii. Jim’s last assignment was at the Pentagon, where he was Inspector General for Army Material and lastly Chief of Plans Operations Division for the Army Operations, Test & Evaluation Agency.
After retirement Jim accepted the position of Director of Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, where he served for 10 years. He then was a partner in Bennett-Forsyth Homes & Properties, LLC, (a development & home building company) from which he permanently retired in 2005.
Jim married Yvonne White in 1962 in Basel, Switzerland. They had one son, Sean, and two daughters, Leigh and Jamie. Jim Married Yvonne Forsyth, March 27, 1992, at the chapel on Mt. Cheaha, AL. Jim became a full time father again at the age of 75, when he and Yvonne adopted Tripp Cobb E. Bennett.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Bennett and Mary Leigh Chapman Bennett, and his son, James Sean Bennett.
Jim is survived by his wife, Yvonne Forsyth Bennett of Heflin, daughters Leigh Bennett Eaton (Richard) of Homewood, AL, Jamie Bennett Martin (Forrest) of Jacksonville, AL, step-daughter Kristin Cobb Johnson of Heflin, and son Tripp Cobb E. Bennett of Heflin. Grandchildren Sean Eaton andRileigh Eaton Sefton (Wheeler) of Homewood, Bennett Martin and Blue Martin of Jacksonville, Connor Johnson and Tripp Cobb E. Bennett of Heflin.
Visitation for James will be on Monday, January 4, 2021, at Antioch Church, 12657 County Road 49, Heflin, AL, (1-1/4 mi. south) off I-20 of exit 210, from 5-7 PM CST. Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM CST on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, officiated by Dr. Barry Howard and Rev. Jerome Whaley.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Forsyth, Mike Benefield, John Howle, Randall Johnson, Steve Kovalev, Connor Johnson, Sean Eaton, Jake Howle and Jim T. Thorn. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested donations to Antioch Church, of which he was a proud member. Donations may be mailed to 398 County Road 438, Heflin, AL, or accepted at the church.
Private interment will follow at Marietta National Military Cemetery.
08/24/1938 - 12/29/2020
James (Jim)L. Bennett, age 82, passed away peacefully at home on December 29, 2020, with his daughter Leigh and wife Yvonne at his side. James was the only child of Clarence L. Bennett, a home builder, and Mary Leigh Chapman Bennett, a high school English teacher. Jim was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Ludowici, Georgia and attended school in Ludowici, graduating in 1956. He attended Presbyterian College in Clinton, SC, graduating in 1960. Upon graduation as a distinguished military graduate (DMG), he accepted a Regular Army Commission and served on Active duty for over 29 years, retiring in 1989, with the rank of Colonel. Col. Bennett was awarded the Army Aircraft Crew Member Badge, two Legion of Merit Awards, two Bronze Star Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals, The Air Medals, The Army Commendation Medal, The National Defense Medal, two Vietnam Service Medals, The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, The Army Overseas Service Medal & Ribbon, The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm. Col. Bennett received a graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1973 with a 4.0 GPA, attaining an MBA.
His USA career took him all over the world, his least favorite assignment being Korea and his favorite Hawaii. Jim’s last assignment was at the Pentagon, where he was Inspector General for Army Material and lastly Chief of Plans Operations Division for the Army Operations, Test & Evaluation Agency.
After retirement Jim accepted the position of Director of Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, where he served for 10 years. He then was a partner in Bennett-Forsyth Homes & Properties, LLC, (a development & home building company) from which he permanently retired in 2005.
Jim married Yvonne White in 1962 in Basel, Switzerland. They had one son, Sean, and two daughters, Leigh and Jamie. Jim Married Yvonne Forsyth, March 27, 1992, at the chapel on Mt. Cheaha, AL. Jim became a full time father again at the age of 75, when he and Yvonne adopted Tripp Cobb E. Bennett.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence L. Bennett and Mary Leigh Chapman Bennett, and his son, James Sean Bennett.
Jim is survived by his wife, Yvonne Forsyth Bennett of Heflin, daughters Leigh Bennett Eaton (Richard) of Homewood, AL, Jamie Bennett Martin (Forrest) of Jacksonville, AL, step-daughter Kristin Cobb Johnson of Heflin, and son Tripp Cobb E. Bennett of Heflin. Grandchildren Sean Eaton andRileigh Eaton Sefton (Wheeler) of Homewood, Bennett Martin and Blue Martin of Jacksonville, Connor Johnson and Tripp Cobb E. Bennett of Heflin.
Visitation for James will be on Monday, January 4, 2021, at Antioch Church, 12657 County Road 49, Heflin, AL, (1-1/4 mi. south) off I-20 of exit 210, from 5-7 PM CST. Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM CST on Tuesday, January 5, 2021, officiated by Dr. Barry Howard and Rev. Jerome Whaley.
Pallbearers will be Wayne Forsyth, Mike Benefield, John Howle, Randall Johnson, Steve Kovalev, Connor Johnson, Sean Eaton, Jake Howle and Jim T. Thorn. In lieu of flowers, Jim requested donations to Antioch Church, of which he was a proud member. Donations may be mailed to 398 County Road 438, Heflin, AL, or accepted at the church.
Private interment will follow at Marietta National Military Cemetery.