Ben Lavelle "Benny" Childress

Ben Lavelle "Benny" Childress of Flora passed away at the age of 63 on January 6, 2020 at St. Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital.

A native and lifelong resident of Flora and born December 29, 1957, he was the son of Elaine Porch Childress and the late Ben H. Childress. Benny was a 1976 graduate of Tri-County Academy. He received his Associates Degree from Hinds Community College before attending Mississippi State University. He owned and operated Childress Brothers Farms, Hawkins Hill Farms, Val-Kat Trucking, Inc., and Court Watch, Inc. He served as a Flora alderman for ten years. He was a lifelong member of Flora United Methodist Church where he served on their Board. He was very active in The Walk to Emmaus. 

In addition to his father, he is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Porch and paternal grandparents, Katherine Lane and John R. Childress. 

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Elaine Childress; his high school sweetheart and wife of 40 years, Tammy Holcomb Childress; daughters, Valerie Childress Bailey (Kevin) and Katie Childress Robinson (Jeremy); sister, Leila Malatesta (Johnny); brother, Leslie Childress (Kathie); grandchildren: Eliza Bailey, Clara Bailey, Nora Kate Robinson, Rosie Robinson, and Gray Robinson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

A graveside service was held January 9, 2020 in Flora at the Flora Cemetery.  

Memorials be made in memory of Benny and in honor of his granddaughter, Evelyn Rose Robinson, to LeBonheur Children's Hospital, 848 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103 or by visiting www.lebonheur.org. Recipient notification information is as follows: PO Box 147, Flora, MS 39071.