Benjamin J Minyard

Benjamin J. Minyard  died Monday, January 6, 2020, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland. He was born on July 11, 1926 in the Buntyn district of Memphis, Tennessee, to Ben Johnston Minyard and Nellie Anderson Minyard. His older sisters, who predeceased him, were Mattie Ganell Osborn, Mildred Earline Williams, and Daisy Irene Campbell.

Ben is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Mary Lou Burmeister, as well as his son and daughter-in-law, Larry and Alice Minyard, and his daughter and son-in-law, Ruth and Rickey Shields. Three loving grandsons are Larry's sons Jeffrey (married to Elizabeth), Jeremy (Heather), and Joshua (Nicole). Ben was thrilled in recent years to welcome his two great-granddaughters, as Jeff and Liz brought great joy to the whole family with the births of Abigail and then Adalyn. Ben will also be missed by several generations of his sisters' children and grandchildren, who all loved their “Uncle Bennie”.

Ben served in the US Navy during the final years of the second World War, then later enlisted in the US Air Force and traveled the world with his family for over 25 years. He worked as a base photographer, competed in many base golf tournaments, and retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1974. He and Mary Lou lived and worked in various cities thereafter, including Jackson, Mississippi, before settling into their long-time residence in Niceville, Florida during the 1980s. They vacationed throughout the United States for many years, and regretted being unable to complete the set with a trip to Alaska!

Ben was cremated and will be interred at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton

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