Mr. Bennie Gilley passed away on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 7221 S. Sherrill St., Tampa, FL 33616 with Rev. Dr. Reginald R. Edwards Sr., Pastor of Greater Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist, Callahan FL., Officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. MASK RECOMMENDED.
Bennie was born in Monticello, Florida on September 5, 1920. He relocated to Tampa where he met and married Martha Carter Gilley.
Bennie retired from Hardaway and Paragon Construction Company as well as Louise Lykes Ferguson. He was a proud man and a no-nonsense type of guy. He was a master of many things including construction which he passed on to his Sons as well as his crews which he would lead to Christ by quoting one of his favorite scriptures: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God in his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
He was preceded in death by: his wife, Martha Carter Gilley; daughter, Gloria Carter; parents, Rance Gilley and Massota Johnson; father and mother-in-law, Willie Lee Jr. and Eunice Carter; siblings, Estella Gardner, Annie Lee Johnson, Laura McCall, and Josephine Miller; brother-in-law, Timothy Carter; grandchildren, Byron B. Patty Sr. and Byron B. Patty Jr.; uncles, John C. Johnson, and Arthur Howard; nephews, Fred Gardner, Alfred McCall, Johnny Cobb, Jimmy Gardner, and Isaac Carter; nieces, Marion Smith, and Juanita Serrano.
He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving children, Laura Gilley, Renee Williams (Mark), Sylvia Smith (Michael), Joseph Gilley, Jacqueline Gilley, Benjamin Gilley (Angela), Menyan Gilley, Rance Gilley (Tasha) Dwayne Gilley and Latonya Gilley; grandchildren, Chanthea Richardson, Jasmine Sutton, Dr. Krista Randolph, Turkessa Hays, Angela Smith, Michael Smith Jr (Kara) Walter Smith (Nefertete), Winfred Lofton Jr (Tiffany), Tony freeman, Keisha McBride, Dominique Gilley, Jerrod Broadnax, Javonni Gilley, Ashley Sells, Latoya Gilley, Benjamin Gilley, Craig Griffey, Young Williams, Alleah Gilley, Mariah Gilley, and Xavier Gilley; brothers and sisters-in-law, Mattie Carter, Teresa Cannon (Gilbert), Maxine Carter, Willie Carter III, Vience Carter, and Regina Carter Cross; nieces, Annie Tate, (Dave) Annie Cobb, Hazel Denson, Geraldine Randall, Berthenia Fields (Edward), and Barbara Gibbs (Franklin); special cousin, Bennie Lee Reed; Goddaughter, Regina Wade; The Port Tampa Community; The Church of Alpha and Omega, Sr. Pastor, Wilbert Cobb; and other sorrowing family, friends, and loved ones.
The visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 17, 2022, at Ray Williams Funeral Home, 301 N. Howard Avenue, Tampa, FL 33606. MASK RECOMMENDED.
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