Gerald Benton
Gerald Lee Benton, Sr., 58, of Chattanooga, died on Monday, December 5, 2016, in a local hospital.
He was a 1976 graduate of Chattanooga City High School. He attended Tennessee State University and later graduated from Chattanooga State Technical Community College with a degree in accounting. Gerald was a faithful member of New Emmanuel Baptist Church for over 50 years where he served as chairman of the Deacon board, the male chorus, mass choir and a member of the finance committee. He was the CEO of his own business, Benton Accounting & Taxes. He hadbeen employed by Taylor Funeral Home since 1991. He was also a former employee with U.S. Pipe and the City of Chattanooga. Gerald served on several boards and was previously the president of the Brainerd High School P.T.A. as well as its football announcer. He coached for the Brainerd Bills football team for 20 plus years. Gerald was a renowned singer throughout the southeast as well as in the state of Maryland. He sang with various gospel choirs, performed in stage plays, and singing groups. Gerald was an AVID Pittsburgh Steelers FAN, a deejay for the City of Chattanooga’s annual Christmas party and the United Way campaign, as well as many other private functions in the Southeast.
He was preceded in death by grandparents, Baxter and Mattie Brown; Horace and Queenie Benton; and brother, Timothy Benton.
Survivors include his wife, Tracy Smith-Benton; son, Chief Petty Officer, Gerald L. (Falen) Benton, Jr., of Norfolk; daughters, D. Michelle Benton and Lakeshia Edwards, both of Chattanooga, Shaneka Childress of Nashville, and Terea Tolbert of San Antonio, TX; nine grandchildren, Kiona Muir, Antonio Hayden, Jalen Benton, Kei’Shawn Hayden, Kamryn Benton, Khi Benton, Aiyana Kresic, Keri Stephens, and Josiah Ferrell; father, Melvin (Gwen) Benton; mother, Joyce Brown-Fears; father-in-law, Thomas L. (Carolyn) Smith; brothers, Lovell (Yvonne) Culberson, Jr. and Bernard (Lesia) Culberson, all of Chattanooga; sisters, Mattie Adams of Atlanta, GA, Cassandra Moorer of Birmingham, AL; uncle, Bobby (JoAnn) Benton of Chattanooga; aunts, Sydella Bankston, Delores Domineck, Elsie Mae Brown, Annie Lee Borkman, all of Chattanooga and Beatrice (Walter) Barker of Columbus, GA; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and many, many special friends including the Taylor Funeral Home family.
A special thanks to Robert Love and Demetrius Boatright for their special care.
Visitation is on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at New Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be on Monday, Dec. 12, at 12:30 p.m. at Olivet Baptist Church with Pastor Terrance Hannah as the eulogist.
Burial will be in Forest Hills Cemetery.