Thomas Clifton Bennett Jr.

Thomas Clifton Bennett Jr.

Thomas Clifton Bennett Jr., a resident of Bradenton, Fla., died Saturday night, March 18, 2006, at his home. He was 82.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today in the Sylvan Grove United Methodist Church, near Midland City, with the Revs. Braxton Snowden and Gillis Crenshaw Jr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. today in the church fellowship hall.

Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Sylvan Grove United Methodist Cemetery Fund, c/o Mildred Dease, 9296 County Road 67, Midland City, AL 36350.

Mr. Bennett was born in Quitman, Ga., and is the son of the late Thomas Clifton Bennett Sr. and Florrie Bonner Bennett. He moved with his family to Miami as a child and had lived in Bradenton since 1982. Mr. Bennett served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member of the board of directors of Horizon Bank and was a life member of the Kiwanis Club of Miami Shores, Fla.

Mr. Bennett developed the Manatee River RV Park, Cypress Creek Estates and was the donor of the Thomas Bennett Park. He owned and operated Bennett Realty in Bradenton and was the first manufacturer of fiberglass boats in the South.

Mr. Bennett was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Woodham Bennett and a daughter, Cheryl Higgins.

Surviving relatives include a daughter, Rosemary Bealle and her husband, Mike Bealle, Omaha, Neb.; two sons, Mike Bennett and his wife, Pamela Bennett, Cape Coral, Fla., Richard Bennett and his wife, Sally Bennett, Parrish, Fla.; a son-in-law, Mark Higgins, St. Petersburg, Fla.; a sister, Mildred Norulak, Cooper City, Fla.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law from the Woodham family, Ruth Mears, Jensen Beach, Fla., Mildred Dease, Midland City, Runell Clark, Dothan, Corrie Paramore and her husband, Earl Paramore, Marianna, Fla., Sharon Snowden and her husband, the Rev. Braxton Snowden, Michael Woodham and his wife, Martha Woodham, Rose Woodham, all of Midland City, Gil Brophy, Jupiter, Fla.; 11 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren.

Holman Headland Mortuary, (334)693-3371, is in charge of the arrangements.