Thomas Jackson Bennett

Life for Thomas Jackson Bennett, also known as Tommy or Tom, began February 13, 1940, in Columbia SC. He was the firstborn of Thomas Jackson Bennett, Sr, and Veo Derrick Bennett. Tom graduated Brookland Cayce High in 1958, where he played trumpet for the marching band. Later, he married his high school sweetheart, Ruth Porter, on February 15, 1962. He and Ruth celebrated their 64th anniversary in 2026. He worked as a meat cutter for years, and then from 1965 to 1993 he worked in the travel industry for an airline.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth and four of his five children; Amanda Bennett Halacka (Dale), David Thomas Bennett, Michelle Bennett Leitner (Joseph), and Jonathan Clay Bennett (Helena). Rachael, his youngest, preceded him in death in 2017. He is also survived by his five grandchildren and one great grandson, and three of his four younger siblings; Barbara Bennett Brown (Raymon), George Douglas Bennett (Jo), and Ernest Reed Bennett. He was predeceased by his youngest sister, Janet Bennett Hager (Henry).

In his younger years, Tom enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, grilling steaks, and softball. He also made a mean beef stew and really good apple pies from his apple tree in the back yard. Later in life, he collected coins, among many other things. He enjoyed being a father, and was always supportive of his wife and children, an excellent provider, and spiritual leader of his immediate family and in the congregation. He created a good home environment for his kids to grow up in, always avoiding the limelight and famous for putting others first. No matter what his circumstances and health problems were, he still managed to put on a smile. He never stopped smiling.

Tom was a consummate student of the Bible and held a high regard for the Bible all his life. He was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on October 13, 1974, and served as an elder for 49 years. An engaging conversationalist from a VERY young age, he loved to tell the story. Starting in his early adulthood, he became the curator of a collection of many jokes…which eventually paved the way for an even larger collection of Dad Jokes. To know Tom was to love him, with his mild manner, his humility, kindness and sweetness. A source of stability for his family and for the several congregations in which he served. We cannot wait to see him again in the paradise, young and healthy again. (Revelation 21: 3-4). Until then, he will be terribly missed by all of us who knew him.

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