James L. Bentley Jr.

FUNERAL HOME

Fletcher-Day Funeral Home

628 North Church Street

Thomaston, Georgia

James Bentley Obituary

Family-Placed Death Notice

James L. (Jimmy) Bentley, Jr. was born on June 15, 1927, in Upson County, Georgia. He died at home on November 7, 2003. Mr. Bentley graduated from Robert E. Lee Institute in Thomaston, Georgia, and served during 1945 and 1946 in World War II as an aviation flight crewman in the Naval Air Corps. He received his LL.B. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1950. Mr. Bentley served as Executive Secretary to Governor Herman Talmadge from 1951 through 1955. Between 1955 and 1962, he served as President of the Georgia Railroad Association. Mr. Bentley was elected Comptroller General of the State of Georgia in 1962 and served as Comptroller General from 1963 until 1971. While Comptroller General, he served as President of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. In that capacity, he led a reorganization of the Association to strengthen it's regulatory capacity. Following his career in politics, Mr. Bentley became involved in the real estate business, and he developed pojects such as the Glenridge 400 office park. Mr. Bentley is survived by his wife of 52 years, Gwendolyn Mincey Bentley; three children, Betty Bentley Watson and husband Wade Watson of Atlanta, James L. Bentley, III and wife Cameron Christian Bentley of Augusta, Georgia; Samuel Bentley and wife Fiona Karen Bentley of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and seven grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Thomas Preston Bentley of Thomaston, Georgia; sister, Claire Bentley Foster and her husband Chris Foster of Decatur, Georgia; and nephew Anthony Foster of Boulder, Colorado and Alex Foster and his wife Heather Foster of Atlanta, Georgia. There will be a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 10, at the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. A graveside service will follow at 3:00 p.m. at Trice Cemetery on Trice Cemetery Road in Upson County, Georgia. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Presbyterian of Atlanta and Trice Cemetery Memorial Fund, 1037 Trice Cemetery Road, Thomaston, Georgia 30286. Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home, Thomaston.

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Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Nov. 10, 2003.

Memories and Condolences
for James Bentley

12 Entries

Steven Epps

November 18, 2003

My prayers go out to the Bentley family. I know Jim Bentley made you all proud, as he has made his hometown proud of all his great accomplishments in life. I am proud to say he was my distant cousin, descended from Millie Ann Trice Nelson, as I and many other cousins were also. May God Bless you all! Jim Bentley will be greatly missed!

Alice Stevens

November 17, 2003

Dear Gwen and Family,

I want to express my deepest sympathy to you all on Jimmy's death. He was a positive and creative man.

I have many pleasant memories of time spent with you two at footabll games and dinners at the old Atlanta Athletic Club.

You all were a delightful couple, I am glad that you shared 52 years.

I still remember Jimmy's special creation of marianated mushrooms, delicious!

Sincerely,

Alice Stevens

Betsy Garlington

November 11, 2003

Dear Mrs. Bentley, Betty, Jim, and Sam,

My thoughts and sympathy for the entire Bentley clan....I haven't seen you all in such a long time and do miss the famous pig roasts sponsored and orchestrated by Mr. Bentley. I lost my father, Peek, this past September 15th...to a long bout with cancer. I know how it feels....Miss all of you and my prayers to everyone.

Love,

Dan Jordan

November 10, 2003

Betty and I were friends as Talmadge interns during the summer of 1978. I especially enjoyed the New Year's Eve party at her parent's house on Lady Marion Lane that year. Her Daddy was a special man. I was a Democrat then and am a Republican now. Jimmy would be proud of me.

Vladimir Slamecka

November 10, 2003

May our condolences and prayers mitigate the Bentley family's suffering, and Atlanta's loss.

Phyllis R. Jones

November 10, 2003

I did not know Mr. Bentley personally, but I have had the pleasure of working with his daughter, Betty, for several years. I have come to know Betty as a very kind and considerate person. Since the apple does not fall far from the tree, these are likely qualities learned, in some measure from her father. My sincerest condolences for the loss of this undobtedly, kind and considerate man. God be with you.

Gilda Little

November 10, 2003

As a SunTrust employee, Mr. B & I shared many conversations about the wonderful food of my native Louisiana. And always with great gusto! I am so sorry for your loss but you have many fine memories to hold in your heart.

Robert S. Duggan, Jr.

November 10, 2003

Our sincere condolences to the Bentley family.

Bob and Kathleen Duggan

Anita Ogden Moore

November 10, 2003

Dearest Gwen: My deepest condolences to you and your family for the loss of your Jimmy and a very dear friend of mine. Love always.

Pasley-Fletcher Funeral Home

November 10, 2003

Offering our deepest condolences during this difficult time.

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