Apostle Benjamin Knox Sr.

Apostle Benjamin Knox, Sr. March 20, 1947-September 1, 2023 Willie Lee Knox, Sr., and Henrietta L. Knox welcomed their eleventh child of fourteen children, a baby boy, on Thursday, March 20, 1947 in Jeff Davis County, Georgia. One might say that Benjamin practically came out of the womb working because at the age of 2, he started his first job in the tobacco and cotton fields. Benjamin tirelessly worked alongside his father and brothers for the next seventeen years before being drafted at age 20 into the United States Army. Although Benjamin started out working in the fields, he did not neglect his studies, but earned both his high school diploma and a technical degree in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. In October 1967, Benjamin moved to Glenwood, Georgia, and married Christine (Tillman) Knox whom he remained married to until her sunset, July 18, 1974. Benjamin’s armed services career lasted three years and three days, including being stationed in Washington State and Texas, and two deployments, first to Japan and then Korea, before being honorably separated in 1970 with an E-5 rank, and honorably discharged in May 1973. Benjamin married Mary M. (Brown) Knox in November 1974. Together, they established the Church Reviving Tabernacle of Jesus Christ and eventually in1987 were able to relocate the ministry from a wooden house down a backwoods dirt road, to the main thruway in the city where they lived, across the street from their primary residence. Benjamin was a masterful carpenter and therefore hand-constructed the new sanctuary’s pulpit and restrooms, installed the ceilings, and hung all of the sheetrock in the building. Before relocating to Conyers, Georgia in 2004, Benjamin worked for Atlantic Wood Industries in Vidalia, Georgia for 28 years. After moving to Conyers, Benjamin took a job as a school bus driver with Newton County Public Schools where he worked for ten years before finally retiring in 2018 at the age of 69. The most important work that Benjamin did in his lifetime was being a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, first to his family as a dedicated father, and second to the community. Benjamin became aware of Christ at age 2, but accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at age 9. He would later become a faithful Apostle, called by the Lord, until death. During the last seven years of his life, Benjamin actively served as an Apostle at Greater Hope Christian Church in Conyer, Georgia where he brought the Word on 5th Sundays. Even as his health was declining, God strengthened Benjamin to oversee and almost single-handedly construct the ministry’s outdoor food pantry. Benjamin preached the gospel to all who had an ear to hear and was literally telling people about Jesus until the end of his life on this earth. Benjamin and Mary shared a beautiful, blended family, for forty-nine years, until his sunset on September 1, 2023. Benjamin leaves to cherish his memories: His wife, Mary M. Knox, children and grandchildren, Dr. Leon Jones (Maria Jones) of Long Island, NY, and their children, Shaneika, Shandell, and Emma (a.k.a.) Mada; Kenneth L. Jones (Merlyn Jones, deceased) of Manchester, CT, and their children Christopher, Markin, and Kaylyn (deceased); Dianna K. Cooper (Willie Cooper) of Macon, GA, and their children Benzhamin, Rashaun, and Hannah; Marie Milavsky (John Milavsky) of Manchester, CT, and their children, Kody and Kaylie; Gwendolyn T. Knox (a.k.a. Tomeki) of Conyers, GA and her children, Macy, Dynasty, Taylor, and Tarea; Lavenna Q. Knox of Dublin, GA, and her children, Khadijah, Caleb (deceased), and De’Borah; Benjamin Knox, Jr. (deceased); Mary Ann Whipple (Dr. Shederick Whipple, Sr.) of Upland, IN and their children Joselyne, Victoria, Shederick, Jr., and Joshua; Alfreada V. Knox of Conyers, GA, and Silvia L. Delamar, Esq. (Rich Delamar) of Conyers, GA, and their children, Jordan and Mia. Living Siblings: Genether Ellis (Charles Ellis, deceased) of Hazlehurst, GA and Willie C. Knox (Dorothy Knox) of Hazlehurst, GA. In-laws: Essie Mae Parker (Robert Parker, deceased) of Tampa, FL; Bertha Mae Mincey of Tampa, Florida; Rosetta Knox (Robert L. Knox, Sr., deceased) of Hazlehurst, GA; Ethel Mae Hall (Odis C. Hall) of Alamo, GA. Family members who departed before Benjamin: His parents: Willie Lee Knox and Henrietta L. Knox; wife: Christine Knox; son: Benjamin Knox, Jr., siblings: Joseph Knox, Curtis Knox, Carrie K. Young, Ira L. Knox, Robert Knox, Sr., Sherman Knox, Josie Lee Jackson, Christine Turner, and Pearlene Reed; grandson: Caleb Brown; granddaughter: Kaylyn Jones. Celebration of Life Details (2 services): Visitation with the Family, Friday, September 8, 2023, 4 PM at Rockdale Chapel, Gregory B. Levett Funeral Home, 1999 SR-138, Conyers, GA Celebration of Life-Conyers, Friday, September 8, 2023, 5 PM at Rockdale Chapel, Gregory B. Levett Funeral Home, 1999 SR-138, Conyers, GA Celebration of Life-Hazlehurst, Georgia, Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 1 PM at Bennett Tabernacle Holiness Church, 26 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Hazlehurst, GA 31539 Interment immediately following Hazlehurst service at Northview Cemetery, 233 North Williams Street, Hazlehurst, GA 31539 Repast, Bennett Tabernacle Holiness Church

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Apostle Benjamin Knox Sr.

March 20, 1947 - September 1, 2023