Jimmy Lee Benefield, 63, of Tifton passed away Sunday, January 15, 2017, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 18, 2017, in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals with the Rev. Gary Cadwell officiating. Mr. Benefield will be laid to rest at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Tuesday, January 17, 2017, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Jeff Thompson, Andy Thompson, Rodney Patterson, Hayden Patterson, Austin Frazier, Lee Frazier, John Domagala, Hugh Jernigan, Dalton Lyles, Jamie Miley and Dewayne Benefield will serve as pallbearers.
Born July 14, 1953 in Ocilla, Mr. Benefield was the son of the late James Edward Benefield and Thelma Connell Benefield. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Jerrynell Miley; a brother, Donnie Benefield; and two brothers-in-law, Walter Thompson and Bill Miley. He was a retired truck driver and owned J. B. Diesel Repair. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1970-1971 in the Third Marine Division Recon and was stationed in Okinawa and served as a sniper in Vietnam. He loved fishing, hunting and working on old cars.
Mr. Benefield is survived by his wife, Sharon Jernigan Benefield of Tifton; two sons, Joey Benefield and Jimmy Benefield, both of Savannah; three step-children and their spouses, Lee and April Frazier and Serena Patterson, all of Ty Ty and Anna and John Domagala of Tifton; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Judy Thompson of Tifton and Cathy and Sonny Patterson of Sylvester; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.