Rev. Benny L. Dearro
A celebration of life for Rev. Benny L. Dearro was to be held yesterday, May 1, at Greenwood Baptist Church in Shady Dale. Bishop Nicholas Curry, pastor; Rev. Terry Glawson, eulogist. Burial was to be at Midway Independent Church.
Pallbearers were to be Maurice Jefferson, Franco Dearro, Charles Russell, Karl Jefferson, Arthur McGuire, Kenneth Rooks, and Terrance Griggs.
Rev. Dearro was born March 19, 1955 to Mrs. Mabel Dearro and the late Willie Frank Dearro Sr., in Shady Dale. He was educated in the Jasper County school system.
After graduation he joined the United States Army where he became an expert in jungle training and received an honorable discharge. He was called to preach in 1978 and received his license to preach from the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church conference later that year.
In 1997, he founded Midway Independent Church where he pastored for 22 years. In addition, he was pastor of the fifth Sunday Union meeting of three churches, the Emancipation Proclamation Club, member of American Legion Post 110, member of Jasper County Care Corps, former member of the Monticello Lodge #329 and a member of the Shiloh Burial Society Lodge #1. He was a devoted worker and retired from United Consulting Inc.
He was preceded in death by his father, his twin brother, Bobby Dearro, and sisters, Emma Rooks and Katherine Jefferson.
Memories will be cherished by his mother, a loving wife of 40 years, First Lady Eva M. Dearro; sons Justin (Monique) Dearro, Christopher (Cassandra) Dearro; daughter, Aki Dearro (Eric Askew); three sisters, Jewel (Riley) Kelly, Corine McGuire, and Cornelia Dearro; brothers, Willie Frank Dearro, Jr., and Evin Dearro,; mother-in-law, Gracie Scott; four brothers-in-law Sammie (Kim) Scott, Eric Scott, Harden Jefferson and Kenneth Rooks; sisters-in-law, Brenda Roseberry, ChrisVera (Steve) Butler, Sandra Scott, Gracie Scott Jr., and a special sister in law, Virginia Ann Dearro. Benny loved his five grandchildren dearly—Christion, Cassiah, Kinslee, Zehya and Marquis. He had a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Smith and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.