Johnny Enouch Bentley Jr.

Mr. Johnnie Enouch Bentley, Jr., age 89 who resided at 405 W. Moores Crossing Road, Thomaston, Georgia passed away at his resident on Thursday, October 20, 2016.  Mr. Bentley was the owner of Bentley’s & Sons Funeral Home of Thomaston, Barnesville and Woodbury, Georgia.  The family may be contacted at his resident.  Public visitation will begin at 12:00 noon on Friday, October 28th.   Family hour will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Raymond Bentley Memorial Chapel at Bentley’s Funeral Home, 518 North Hightower Street, Thomaston, Georgia.  Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 29th at 12:00 noon at the Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church 502 Traylor Street, Thomaston, Georgia.  Interment will follow in the Bentley’s/Carson Cemetery of Reynolds Georgia.   Pastor Charles E. Reeves will be the Eulogist.  Bentley’s Chain of Funeral Home is in charge of all professional services.

Mr Johnnie Enouch Bentley, Jr On November 20, 1926, Johnnie Enouch Bentley, Jr. was born to the late J.E. Bentley Sr. and the late Ida Carson in Reynolds, Taylor County, Georgia.  His home environment was conductive to his spiritual growth at every junction in life and he joined White Hill Baptist Church in 1938.  He received his basic education in the Taylor County School System and graduated from the Reynolds High and Industrial School in 1944.  

Following his high school graduation, he enrolled in the Atlanta School of Mortuary Science and graduated in 1947 as a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  He returned to Reynolds and joined his father and brother, the late Mr. Anderson Bentley, Sr., in the operation of the family funeral business for the next twelve years.

In July 1958, he made his departure from the home front and ventured into Thomaston, Upson County, Georgia. There, with the support of God and his people, he established his own funeral business, which has grown continually for the past 58 years.

Following divine guidance, he transferred his Christian letter to the greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Thomaston in 1971, where he served as Chairman and Secretary of the Deacon Board, Other benevolent affiliations, which are consistent to his character, have opened many doors for minority and Afro-American groups in his practice area, mainly the Upson County Men and Women of Action Club, NAACP, Second Flint River Baptist Association, Mutual Aid Society, Inc. and other civil organizations. 

He was influential in bringing about justice and equal rights among his people by helping to establish voting precincts that are convenient to many in his area. During the mid eighties, he filed an action suit against the City and County Governments of Upson County to end racial discrimination in promotion and firing practices, which resulted in some employees receiving substantial back pay.

In 1988, he followed in his father’s footsteps by branching out. Bentley and Sons Funeral Home of Barnesville, Georgia was established in August and Bentley and Sons Funeral Home of Woodbury, Georgia was established in January of 2006. He honored his father throughout his lifetime and adopted the same philosophy: “Yesterdays’ gone, Tomorrow’s unborn; so, all I need to do is live for today and trust in God  to show me the way”. He was sincerely loved and respected by his family, staff, business, associates and many dear and loyal friends for having that human touch in this world that counts.  

Mr. Bentley was preceding in death by his wife, Gertrude Stinson Bentley; a son, Raymond Henry Bentley; five siblings; Gladys Bentley, T. J. Bentley, Anderson Bentley, Sr., Easter Bentley Hicks and Eloyse Bentley Lockhart; he is survived by four sons; Deacon Johnny Wesley (Pamela) Bentley, Sr.; Deacon J. Paul (Murrie) Harper Jr.; and Deacon Johnnie E. (Sholana) Bentley III all of Thomaston, GA; Dr. Kenneth (Candy) Harper of Lithonia, GA; daughter-in-law, Shirley Bentley of Thomaston, GA; 23 grand-children; one he reared as a daughter, Jaquanna Bentley; several great grand and great-great grandchildren; sister, Lillie B. Hicks of Detroit, MI; brother, Willie James (Betty) Bentley of Reynolds, GA; several nieces and nephews including two very devoted nephews; Anderson (Diane) Bentley, Jr. of Milledgeville, GA; Lenward Bentley, Sr. of Woodbury, GA; a host of cousins and friends; two very devoted friends; Deacon Willie B. Harris and Ned Tarver both of Thomaston, GA.

Please keep the Bentley Family and Staff all in your prayers at this time.

 The Bentley and Son's Funeral Home of Middle Georgia has charge of all arrangements. Please visit our website for more information www.bentleycarson.com.

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