Mr. Anthony Martel Benton Jr.

Anthony professed his belief in Christ at the age of fourteen and was baptized on May 24, 2009, at New Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church, where he was a member of the New Phi Youth Group under the leadership of Rev. Eric Blake. Anthony was always willing to help around the church with cleaning or whatever task he was called upon to perform.

The best description of Anthony, affectionately called Junior, is an introduction he wrote for a tenth-grade class at Kirby High School, which earned him a grade of 100. He was so proud, and we kept this paper for years. He writes, “My name is Anthony Benton. I like to go to the movies, hang out with friends, and go to parties. I am kind, respectful, fun-loving. I don’t talk back to older people. I love to help out older people when they need help.”

Everyone who knew Anthony can attest to his kindness, and his fun-loving, carefree personality. He had a passion for shoes and would buy a new pair of tennis whenever he had money.

Anthony was preceded in death by his mother, Nina Benton, in 2002, and his maternal grandmother, Emma Curtis, two months ago.

Family and friends left to cherish his memories are: his father, Anthony Benton, Sr.; his paternal grandmother, Vernita Miller; his sisters, Raven Ball and Za’Vita Benton; nephew, Martavius Sanders; two uncles, Timothy McKinney (Patsy) of Orlando, Florida, and Tatum Benton; two aunts, Michelle McKinney and Sylvia Curtis; three great-aunts, Fannie Howze, Joann Walker and Suzanne Clark; cousins, Darius Abrams, Aaron Curtis, Ashley Brown (Cortez), Takeyrah Wallace, Dakota Abrams, Lori Nicholson, and Erica Phelps; his special friends, Marsha Sullivan, Mike Sullivan, Sr., and Lil Mike Sullivan, Jr.; his buddy, Nick; and a host of other relatives and friends.