Obituaries

Reverend James Lee Benford

 Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, also believed also in me                  John 14:1 KJV

Reverend James Lee Benford was born to the late Warren and Mary Ann Benford on the 2nd Day of March 1950 in Benchley,Tx.

He attended public school in Hearne, Tx and gave his life to Christ at an early age, and was a member of Wilson Chapel Baptist Church. After graduating high school in Hearne, Tx he moved to Houston, Tx where he later inlisted as a service member in the United States Army in 1971.During his tenure in the Armed Forces, he was promoted to the Rank of ES Sergeant in 1974. James Benford received a calling into the ministry and was licensed to preach The Gospel on July 7th of 1974, before being Honorably Discharged on October of the same year.Upon his return home, Rev. James L Benford attended Texas A&M and later Texas Southern University,where he majored in Education. Also he resumed his duty as an active member at Wilson Chapel Baptist Church, where he was later recommended and voted in as Pastor by the late Rev E.S. Wheeler, on March 22nd of 1981.

In 1983 he was united in Holy Matrimony to Miss Deborah Ann Murphy, who bore him three loving sons, James Lee,Johnny Ray, and Justin Young Benford. He continued to be active cornerstone member in his church and residential community for the next 30 plus years until he was called home on Sunday the 13th of November 2016. Reverend James Lee Benford was preceded in death by two brothers, Warren Lee and Johnny Ray Benford.

He is survived by his three sons; two adopted children, Dwight Pierre and Valeria Evans; four sisters, Cora Daniels, Josephine Hill, Thelma Wellborn, Mary Smithers; three brothers, Wayman Benford, Leonard Benford, Timmy Benford; three grandsons, Donavon Ray Benford, Nathaniel Ray Benford and Jayden Lee Benford, along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews,relatives and friends.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto to you. I go away and come again unto you- If ye loved Me, ye would rejoice because I said, I go unto the Father: for My Father is greater than I.                                John 1427b-28 KJV