Bennie Branham Daniels, Jr.

Bennie Branham Daniels, Jr. (87) died on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at University Hospital. He was born on May 8, 1933 in Columbia, SC the son of Allie Thomas Daniels and Bennie Branham Daniels. He was their fourth of six children and the first son. Growing up in Columbia he had a strong work ethic and began earning spending money as a young boy by bringing in coal for elderly neighbors, baby sitting and having a paper route. With the money earned he bought his first car. He loved to say that he had never had to apply for a job or pay rent. Job offers came to him and he bought his first house when he got married and moved from his parents’ home. In 1956 he married Myra Sutherland and this happy marriage produced three children and lasted 43 years before her death in 1999. Since 2001 he has been married to “Betsy” Myers Daniels.

Mr. Daniels graduated from Dreher High School in Columbia, SC and attended the University of South Carolina before beginning his interesting work career. He began as a bookkeeper at a large automobile repair shop in Columbia, SC where he dealt with claims. This experience led him into being offered a job in claims with the James C. Green Company and a move to Orangeburg, SC. He was hired by Farm Bureau to handle some claims that their adjustor had not been able to handle and this led to his being hired permanently by Farm Bureau in 1968. He first worked in South Carolina as an adjustor, a district sales manager, and associate director of sales before being transferred to Jackson, MS in 1976 to become Associate Director of Sales. He earned the Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1977 and in 1980 was awarded the Sales and Marketing Executives Distinguished Sales Award. He retired from Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in 1998 as Vice President, Associate Director of Marketing. His work with Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance took him all over the country and he and Myra had some wonderful company trips all over the world.

At the age of 17 Mr. Daniels joined the South Carolina National Guard.

In 1958 he graduated from Palmetto Military Academy and received a commission of Second Lieutenant and from there took advantage of any opportunity to learn more and become a better soldier. Part of his job with the National Guard was to bring a mechanized brigade to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, MS for training. It was summer and it was hot and there were snakes in the old WWII bunkers. He prayed to the Good Lord that if He would just let him get home safely with all those men and the equipment, he would never set foot in Mississippi again. Six months later he was transferred to Mississippi with Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company. His move to Mississippi in 1976 necessitated his retirement from the South Carolina National Guard. When he retired he had attained the rank of Major and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He was an active member of Christ United Methodist Church, serving on their Church Council both as a member and Chairman. He and Betsy served on the Ministerial Scholarship Fund committee and in 2013 the annual golf tournament was named in their honor. The Senior Adult Leadership Team was a special mission for him and he served as their leader for several years. He also enjoyed being part of the JOY and Sanctuary choirs, the Prayer Ministry, Homebuilders and New Yorkers Sunday School classes and the Monday Growth Group. Through his association with the Methodist Church he was appointed as a member of the Mississippi Methodist Senior Services organization which oversees the operation of their many retirement, assisted living and nursing homes in the state. He served many years on that board, becoming Chairman in 2015-16 and continued on the board until illness caused his retirement in 2020.

Mr. Daniels became involved with the Cystic Fibrosis organization and was honored by them in 2000. He loved being a part of the Walter Scott Coffee Club and served many years as their President and Treasurer. The Sonny Steel Sharing Group was another organization close to his heart as was the Third Thursday Supper Club and the Retired Men’s Group at Christ United Methodist Church. He attended Curcillo #110.

Always a golfer, he enjoyed many years of playing golf and gin rummy with friends at Colonial Country Club and served on their Board as a member and later Chairman. He even had a signature golf tournament “The Big Bird Classic” on the weekend after Thanksgiving for many years. After his retirement he could be found at Colonial most mornings and their closing left him devastated.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters, 1 brother and his wife, Myra. He leaves his wife, Betsy, his 3 children: Bennie B. Daniels, III (Renee) of Bryson City, NC.; Robie Daniels Rossi (Tony) of Madison, MS and Bryan Daniels (Margie) of Ridgeland, MS; his sister Dottie Sewell of Charleston, SC; his grandchildren Lyndsey Blackston (Joe) of Jackson; Kelsey Paden (Tracy) of Wilder, KY; Branham Daniels (Cat) of Huntsville, AL; Jeffrey Daniels (Ashley) of Leeds, AL; Russ Daniels (Olivia) and Rob Daniels (Amelia) of Huntsville, AL and Allie Sanders (Colten) of Fort Collins, CO and 7 great-grandchildren. After his marriage to Betsy he loved being a part of her family which includes son David Myers of Jackson and daughter Martha Myers Briscoe of Oxford, 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Due to Covid concerns, a family graveside service will be held at Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may consider Mississippi Methodist Senior Services Sunday Fund, P. O. Box 1567, Tupelo, MS 38802. This program helps keep seniors who have outlived their financial resources remain in their nursing home. Bennie was passionate about this program.