Mr. Ben Robert Nessmith Sr.

STATESBORO, Ga. - Mr. Ben Robert Nessmith Sr., age 80, died Wednesday, August 11th, 2010, at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. He was born Oct. 31st, 1929, the son of Josh T. and Selma Nessmith. Ben grew up in Statesboro and graduated from Statesboro High School in 1948. He married Rebecca Donaldson in 1949.
In 1950 Ben was mobilized with the Georgia National Guard and served two years during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return home, Ben began his own business, Nessmith Home Improvement Service. Later he began his employment with the T.J. Morris Company as their shipping and transportation manager. Following his retirement, he opened Ben's Electronics, where he serviced electronics and sold CB radios. In 1995, Ben and Becky moved to her family's farm in the Middleground Community and Ben saw the opportunity to start another business, "Becky's Farms". He started as a "pick your own" strawberry farm and eventually expanded to include peaches, nectarines, plums, blackberries and grapes. Ben also learned new skills by taking art lessons, combined with his joy of wood working, and built frames in his shop to display his work.
Ben served the Statesboro community in a number of ways. He served as scout master for the Boy Scouts, where he received numerous awards. He has been an active member of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club for over 25 years and for the past 15 has been a fixture at the fairgrounds, overseeing work projects in preparation for the fair. He was a member of the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Beamon Newsome Bible Study Class. Ben was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jean N. Rodgers.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Rebecca Donaldson Nessmith of Statesboro; two sons and daughters-in-law, Ben Robert Nessmith Jr. and Susan and Donald E. and Dale Nessmith, all of Statesboro; four grandchildren, Tara N. Peterson of Cumming, Mary Nessmith of Waycross, Brent Nessmith of Atlanta and Kathy Nessmith of Statesboro; a great-grandchild, Aidyn Peterson of Cumming; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, Josh T. and Alawayne Nessmith of Warner Robins and William Emory and Betty Nessmith of Atlanta.
The funeral service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church with Elder Randy Waters officiating.
The body will lie-in-state one hour prior to the service.
Interment will be in the Eastside Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Donaldson, David Donaldson, Wesley Donaldson, Jay Nessmith, Dr. Billy Nessmith and Jack Bailey.
Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Statesboro Kiwanis Club and the Beamon Newsome Bible Study Class.
The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, Ga. 30459; or the Statesboro Primitive Baptist Church, 4 South Zetterower Avenue, Statesboro, Ga. 30458.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home of Statesboro is in charge of the arrangements.

Statesboro Herald, August 13, 2010
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