Benne Rufus McCants Sr.

Obituary For Benne Rufus McCants Sr.

Mr. Benne Rufus McCants Sr., 83, of Suwannee, GA, former of Lanett, AL, gained his wings into eternal rest on September 23, 2024 at his residence.

Funeral Services for Mr. Benne Rufus McCants, Sr. will be held on Monday, September 30, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET in the sanctuary of the Greenwood Baptist Church, 4829 Veterans Memorial Parkway, Lanett, AL 36863 with Rev. Michael Winston, Pastor, Rev. Wayne Frazier, Eulogist. Interment will take place in the Rosehill Cemetery, Linden, NJ.
Public viewing will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the mortuary.

The family will receive friends at the Greenwood Baptist Church on Monday, September 30, 2024 from 12:00(noon) ET until the funeral hour.
Final Arrangements entrusted to M. W. Lee Mortuary of West Point, GA and Sampson Funeral Services, Inc., 2601 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11208

Benne Rufus McCants Sr. was born January 15th 1941 in Lanett, Alabama to the late Amos McCants Sr. and Arrie Bell Williams-McCants. From an early age Benne was very popular and loved in his community, within which he never met a stranger. In school he was active in a number of clubs,sports and still maintained an “A”average throughout until graduating HS.
Benne attended Brooklyn College as an accounting major to show off his mathematical talents; yet another display of his brilliance. Although his skills on the football field were questionable, he still landed the position as the team’s Captain. Upon graduating Lanier high school in 1958, Bennie joined the United States Army. In the Army Benne continued to excel with a specialty title and badge; Lieutenant Weapons Info,a Parachutist(paratrooper) Badge In the US Army he was trained to parachute out of planes straight into combat. He was also trained in Judo in where he earned a brown belt. He was Honorably Discharged from the Army with the rank of Lieutenant on(9/5/61) September 5th 1961; since 9/4/61 was the Labor Day holiday he had to stay in the Army an extra day so by serving his time plus 1 day, the US Army was unable to draft him for the Vietnam War, due to this minor technicality. His mother thanked God that he was unable to fight in that war. He moved to Cleveland Ohio to be closer to his sister & brother after being discharged from the US Army, where he stayed for two years. He relocated in 1963 to Brooklyn, NY where he had two sisters & a brother living there. He landed a job with Avis Rental Car Service and was quickly promoted as the only African American at that site as a manager at that time On June 28, 1963 Benne would meet the love of his life Ossie Maria “Bae Bae” Ward and be “instantly smitten”. They were married on January 15, 1965, and were inseparable until the time of her death in 1/2023; 8 days before their 58th wedding anniversary. From their union came the original “Bae Bae’s Kids!” Benne was a devout Christian and joined the Mt Ollie Baptist Church in 1983 There he became a Deacon serving as the chairman for a time and the entire church’s honorary Godfather. In his career Benne would later leave Avis to go into business for himself as a Plumber by trade, stating to his eldest “Tish, a City job wouldn’t be able to feed your mother and siblings…..lol! In 1988 Benne began working for the US Postal Service. Again he excelled in his profession and promoted as supervisor until his retirement in 2006 all a while continuing his work as a Plumber. Benne’s Love and Devotion to his family meant everything to him and he lived his life making sure that we wanted for nothing.In 2018 he and his wife Ossie would relocate to Suwanee Georgia then retire to Buford, GA to live out the rest of their days.

Benne has now joined the love of his life Ossie Marie McCants to be with her, their son Erik O. McCants and the Lord. His parents Amos and Arrie Bell McCants, 1 sister Priscilla (Kevin) Wilson, whom all has preceded him in death. He leaves to cherish his memory: 3 daughters; Letetia Genene (David) Brown, Bevere (Dexter) Ghent, Stacey McCants(Derick Petersen) 1 son; Benne R. (Monifa) McCants Jr., 12 grandchildren; Nadég “Nu Nu”, Warwick Jr. “PJ”, David Jr. “DJ”, Shakeera, Brianna, Tyra, Tinái, Benné, Austin, Kayla, Imani, and Xochi (Shermaine)great grandson; Zyan. 3 God daughters Allison (William) Jones, Anaya (Gerrad) Jefferson, Ebony (Bevone) Bailey 3 sisters; Mary (Wilbert) Avery, Lois (Nathan)Spencer, Bernice Brown 2 twin brothers; Andy (Vilma) McCants and Amos (Elizabeth) McCants, 1 brother-in-law, Landon Ward. numerous nieces, nephews, god-children and a host of loving family and friends.

Services

Public Viewing

Sep

29

M.W. Lee Mortuary

P.O. Box 27-1304 E. 10th Street
West Point , GA 31833

2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

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Funeral Service

Sep

30

Greenwood Baptist Church

4829 Veterans Memorial Pkwy
Lanett, AL 36863

1:00 PM

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