Rev. James D. Benson

Rev. James D. Benson-a Maryville resident and a retired minister of the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, passed into Eternal Church of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at the age of 91. Reverend Benson was the only child John D. and Marguerite H. Benson, born on April 12, 1926, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was a graduate of Knoxville High School, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He also attended the Asbury Theological Seminary as a ministerial student for two years. Reverend Benson pastored Holston Conference United Methodist Churches in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for 41 years. He was a veteran of World War II experiencing combat in Germany with the U.S. Army 95th Division. After his retirement from active ministry, Reverend Benson also served as a volunteer at Blount Memorial Hospital for 22 years in the gift shop. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 28, at First United Methodist Church of Maryville with Rev. Catherine Nance officiating. The entombment will follow at Grandview Cemetery. Friends may call at their convenience at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Maryville, 804 Montvale Station Rd., Maryville, TN 37803. And as Pastor Benson always closed his sermons, May the Lord bless you and keep you....and give you peace.