John William “Jack” Bennett, Sr.

John William “Jack” Bennett, Sr., 83, passed away at home, surrounded by his family, on October 7, 2021.  Visitation will be from 1-2PM on October 9, 2021 at Carrollton Presbyterian Church in Carrollton, MS with funeral service to follow at 2PM.  Graveside Service will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.  Officiating at the services are Rev. Mike Allday, Rev. Chuck Carroll, and Rev. David Harrell.  Pallbearers are Sam Newell, III, Jack Newell, Fredy Banuelos, Wally Montgomery, Roger Bennett, Jr., and Malcolm Bennett. Honorary pallbearers are Ronnie Howard, Jim Howard, and Billy Montgomery.

Jack was born on February 5, 1938 and raised in Carrollton, MS where he developed a love of the outdoors.  From a very young age, he had an interest in cattle, and hunting and fishing became a passion.  He played sports in high school and went on after graduation to play football at Holmes Junior College.  He married the love of his life, Shirley Mullen on May 26, 1957.  He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1962 with a degree in Civil Engineering.  After graduation, he started to work for the US Army Corp of Engineers with his first job being on the NASA Test Site, building test stands for the Apollo Mission.  He continued his career on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway, building locks and dams from Gainesville, AL to Tennessee.  After retirement from the Corp of Engineers, Jack began consulting work in several different locations with the biggest jobs being in Arkansas and New Orleans, LA after hurricane Katrina.  After retirement, he moved back to Carroll County to raise cattle on the farm he loved so much.

Jack’s faith was the biggest priority in his life, evidenced by his life and active involvement in churches everywhere he lived.  He was a Charter member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Aberdeen and was an officer in all the churches where he was a member.  His last church was Carrollton Presbyterian Church, the church in which he was raised, where he was an elder. 

Family always came first in everything.  He enjoyed many travels with his family, but the beach was always the family favorite. 

Survivors are his bride of 64 years, Shirley Mullen Bennett of McCarley; One son, John Bennett, Jr of Selma, AL; one daughter, Jackie (Sam) Newell of Tupelo; 3 grandchildren, Lindsay (Fredy) Banuelos of San Antonio, TX, Sam Newell, III and Jack Newell of Tupelo; one great-grandchild, Eli Banuelos of San Antonio, TX, one brother, Roger Bennett of Conroe, TX; 3 sister-in-laws; 1 brother-in-law; and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Malcolm M. Bennett, Sr; his mother, Emma Frances Bennett; one brother, Mack Bennett; his son-in-law, David Bowen; his grandson, Will Bowen; his sister-in-law, Barbara Bennett; and his brother-in-law, James Howard.

The family is especially grateful for his wonderful caregivers, Angela Mullins, RN and Jerry Branch, who allowed him to be home, as was his wish.

The family requests that memorials be sent to Carrollton Presbyterian Church, PO Box 201, Carrollton, MS 38917.  Oliver Funeral Home in Winona is in charge of the arrangements.