BEN “BENJAMIN” WASHINGTON, 92, FELL ASLEEP IN DEATH ON JULY 4, 2026.

BORN ON FEBRUARY 1, 1934, IN EUTAWVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, BEN WAS THE SON OF THE LATE MAY DOLL WASHINGTON AND WESLEY BENJAMIN WASHINGTON.

 

AS A YOUNG MAN, BEN WORKED AT THE LOCAL RACETRACK, WHERE HE DEVELOPED A LIFELONG LOVE OF HORSES. HORSE RACING REMAINED ONE OF HIS GREATEST PASSIONS, AND HE DELIGHTED IN INVITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO GATHER EACH YEAR TO WATCH THE TRIPLE CROWN RACES. THOSE MOMENTS BECAME CHERISHED TRADITIONS FILLED WITH CONVERSATION, LAUGHTER, AND FELLOWSHIP.

 

BEN PROUDLY SERVED HIS COUNTRY AS A VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY. FOLLOWING HIS MILITARY SERVICE, HE BEGAN HIS CAREER WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE IN NEW YORK. AFTER RELOCATING TO NORTH CAROLINA, HE JOINED DUKE POWER (NOW DUKE ENERGY), WHERE HE WORKED FAITHFULLY UNTIL HIS RETIREMENT. NEVER ONE TO SIT STILL, BEN CONTINUED SERVING HIS COMMUNITY BY WORKING PART-TIME WITH THE ROWAN-SALISBURY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

 

ON OCTOBER 30, 1954, BEN MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, IDA WIGFALL. TOGETHER THEY BUILT A LOVING HOME AND RAISED THREE DAUGHTERS: MARY, SUSAN, AND CHELSEA. THEIR MARRIAGE WAS MARKED BY  DEVOTION, PARTNERSHIP, AND A SHARED COMMITMENT TO THEIR FAMILY AND THEIR FAITH.

 

ONE OF THE DEFINING QUALITIES OF BEN’S LIFE WAS HIS DEEP FAITH. ON AUGUST 13TH, 1960 HE AND IDA WERE BAPTIZED TOGETHER AS ONE OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES AT YANKEE STADIUM. TOGETHER THEY FAITHFULLY SERVED JEHOVAH FOR MANY YEARS, ENJOYING THE PRIVILEGE OF TEACHING OTHERS ABOUT THE BIBLE. THEIR HOME WAS KNOWN FOR ITS WARMTH AND HOSPITALITY, AND COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS EXPERIENCED THEIR KINDNESS, GENEROSITY, AND GENUINE love.

ALTHOUGH BEN TREASURED BEING A HUSBAND AND FATHER, ONE OF HIS GREATEST JOYS WAS BEING A GRANDFATHER. HE EMBRACED THAT ROLE WHOLEHEARTEDLY, CREATING LASTING MEMORIES WITH HIS WISDOM, HUMOR, ENCOURAGEMENT, AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. HIS INFLUENCE REACHED FAR BEYOND HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY, AS HE ALSO BECAME A SURROGATE FATHER AND GRANDFATHER TO MANY WHO WERE BLESSED TO KNOW HIM.

 

BEN WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS BELOVED WIFE, IDA WASHINGTON; HIS PARENTS; HIS BROTHERS, FLOYD WASHINGTON, JAMES WASHINGTON, MAURICE “MONK” WASHINGTON, AND GERALD (WASHINGTON) GREEN; HIS SISTER, BESSIE DINGLE; AND HIS GREAT-GRANDSON, RYAN EDWARD BENJAMIN WILLIAMS II.

 

HE LEAVES TO CHERISH HIS MEMORY HIS THREE DAUGHTERS: MARY W. WILLIAMS (EDWARD), SUSAN W. YOW (WAYNE), AND CHELSEA W. MOORE (BARRY); HIS FIVE GRANDCHILDREN, RYAN EDWARD BENJAMIN WILLIAMS (MARGO), BRANDON RASHAD BENJAMIN WILLIAMS, CHELSEA S. WILLIAMS, BARRY WESLEY BENJAMIN MOORE, AND BRYNN A.J. MOORE; HIS GREAT-GRANDSON, JACOB C. WILLIAMS; ALONG WITH MANY EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS, DEAR FRIENDS, AND THE MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO LOVINGLY CONSIDERED HIM A FATHER, GRANDFATHER, MENTOR, AND FRIEND.

 

BEN’S LIFE WAS DEFINED BY FAITH, HARD WORK, HOSPITALITY, LOVE FOR HIS FAMILY, AND UNWAVERING KINDNESS. HIS EXAMPLE WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE ALL WHO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF KNOWING HIM. HE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED AND LOVINGLY REMEMBERED UNTIL THE DAY GOD’S PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION IS FULFILLED.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to everyone who called, visited, prayed, and checked on Ben and the family throughout the past year. They especially wish to thank Tessa Jackson and January Williams for the exceptional care, compassion, and loving-kindness they showed Ben during his final years. Your support and devotion will never be forgotten.

Carolina Cremation is honored to serve the Washington family. Online condolences may be made at www.carolinacremation.com.