The Rev. Samuel Lee Benjamin Jr., 57, husband of Ella Nora Johnson Benjamin, died Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at Tuomey Regional Medical Center in Sumter.
Born Oct. 13, 1957, in Sumter County, he was a son of the late Samuel Lee Benjamin Sr. and Daisy Green Benjamin. He attended Sumter County public schools. He was employed with Sumter School District 2 for 24 years as a custodian and bus driver.
He accepted Christ at an early age and joined Antioch UME Church. He later joined St. James AME Church and served as Sunday school teacher, trustee pro tem and assistant to the pastor. In the AME church, he served as president of the Wateree Chapter of the Sons of Allen. His calling was accepted to preach the gospel in 2001. In 2010, he returned home to the UME church as member of Olden Chapel UME Church and served as Sunday school teacher and was assistant to the pastor. As a pastor, his first assignment was Brown Chapel UME Church for three years and, in 2014, at St. Phillip UME Church until his death. The Rev. Benjamin founded the Men of Faith ministry of the UME church.
Survivors besides his wife of the home include four children, Toricer (Stephanie) Johnson, Samantha Benjamin and Sandra Benjamin, all of Pinewood, and Angelia Ragin (Alton) Terry of Columbia; four sisters, Ruth Ann Jones of Cheverly, Maryland, Susan Benjamin of Pinewood, Mary Ann Benjamin of Thomasville, N.C. and Sarah (Scott) Perry of Greensboro, N.C.; three brothers, Johnnie Lee Benjamin and Franklin Benjamin, both of Sumter, and Robert (Alice) Benjamin of Thomasville; seven grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
A public viewing will be held from 3-7 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2015, at Community Funeral Home in Sumter.
Funeral services for the Rev. Samuel Lee Benjamin Jr. will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Ap;ril 25, 2015, at the Manchester Elementary School gymnasium, with Bishops Willie Green Jr. and Leroy T. James, Elder James O. Robinson, Dr. Richard James, the Revs. Lavaron Johnson, Denzel Hampton, Melissa Green, Katie Williams, Roger Mullins and Charlie Hampton, and Pastor Linda M. Speed all officiating.
Burial will follow in Manning Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home, 2770 Sparkleberry Landing Road in Pinewood.
Online memorials may be sent to comfhltj@sc.rr.com.
Community Funeral Home of Sumter is in charge of these arrangements.
