Charles Ray "ChooChoo" Bennett

Charles Ray "ChooChoo" Bennett passed away on Friday, October 10, 2025 at his home in St. Francisville. He was 84 years old and a lifelong resident of St. Francisville. He was a graduate of St. Francisville High School and one of the seven Bennett children out of the nine to attend Julius Freyhan School through the 4th grade. He was owner and operator of Bennett's Super Service Highway 61. He was a longtime dedicated school bus driver Bus #12 for the West Feliciana School Board. After retirement, he continued to drive the football and basketball teams to away games for many years and then donated his #12 Bus to the school district. He was honored in 2003 as the Civic Club's Outstanding Citizen. In his own quiet way, he touched many lives through the life lessons his parents instilled in all of their 9 children. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in St. Francisville, where he served as an altar boy and later in life, an usher. He was a charter member of the West Feliciana Hunting Club and loved to hunt and fish and always needed to be near the Mississippi River. Visiting will be at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in St. Francisville on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 from 10am – 12pm with funeral Mass to follow at 12pm and burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, St. Francisville. "ChooChoo" is survived by a daughter, Christi Bennett Sykes of St. Francisville, a granddaughter, Erin Sykes Hoffmann, and husband, Jake, of Slidell. Great grandchildren, Allie Christine Hoffmann and Cooper Charles Hoffmann of Slidell. Sisters, Dodie Bennett Charlet of Zachary and Helen "Ruthie" Bennett Davis and husband, James Randy Davis of St. Francisville. A dear family friend and travel companion, Ann Rosso of St. Francisville. Numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Captain Philip Morris Bennett, Sr. and Helen Valin Bennett, his wife, Johnnie Lou Welch Bennett. His siblings, Philip Morris Bennett, Jr., James Wallace Bennett, Martha Bennett Senter, Irma Bennett Bryant, Betty Ruth Bennett Rinaudo and Shirley Bennett Hicks. Pallbearers will be Waylan Bennett, Dickie Sanchez, Rad Hicks, Don Charlet, Jr., Bennett Jones and Sam Rosso. Honorary pallbearers will be Randy Davis, Jake Hoffmann, Mike Bennett, Bill Bennett, Jay Bennett, Brent Charlet, Phil Rinaudo and Dr. Tim Lindsey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Building Fund or Julius Freyhan Foundation.