William Horace Benjamin, 91, a resident of Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community in Laurens and a pastor in South Carolina for more than 50 years, died Aug. 9, 2008.
William Horace BenjaminKnown as “Pop” to his family, Benjamin was born Aug. 20, 1917, on a farm called the Gary Place in Greenwood County. He attended Greenwood County schools and later graduated from North Greenville Baptist Academy. A quote from the 1941 yearbook describes him as “never too busy to play a prank or do a favor.” He went on to graduate from Furman University, where he served as president of the student body, and later attended Southern Baptist Seminary, where he earned his bachelor of theology degree. In 1978 he received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Furman University.
Benjamin served as pastor of churches in Wagener, Lamar, Abbeville, Anderson, and Ware Shoals. From 1978-1995, he served as outreach minister at Berea First Baptist Church in Greenville.
He was a Mason, chaplain to several fire departments, and member of the Rotary Club, Lions Club and other community organizations.
A good day for Benjamin would be spending some time in prayer and Bible study, working in his rose garden, and catching a Furman football game.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Aiken Benjamin, two children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Mildred Loftis Benjamin, in 2000.