1Julius Thomas Cleveland Bennett
Sept 27, 1906 – Jan 12, 1991
- Father of 10 children
- Avid reader
- Loved wrestling
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The Parade of Bennetts · 53rd Family Reunion, Greenville, SC
The Bennett Family Parade & Ancestor Tribute
At the 53rd reunion in 2026 we held our first Bennett Family Parade. Each family branch showed its direct lineage through a skit, song, poem, dance, or custom t-shirts, as a creative way to show how we are all connected as one Bennett family.
This tribute makes sure every branch descending from Berry and Barbina Bennett is remembered, celebrated, and documented for the next generation.
How the Parade works
Trace it, gather it, show it
Each branch starts by tracing its line back to one of the 26 children below, then gathers its family, picks a creative medium, and joins the Saturday march.
Berry & Barbina→Preston & Mattie or Erias & Bessie→Your branch→You
Preston & Mattie Bennett
14 children
1
2Henrietta Blanch Bennett Williams
Feb 11, 1908 – 2002
- Lived in Buffalo, NY
- Mother of 2 children
3Henry Hudson Bennett
July 19, 1909 – May 31, 1974
- Wore a size 16 ring
- Loved tap dancing
- Father of 13 children
4Jessie Amanda Bennett
Dec 13, 1912 – Aug 30, 2006
- Member, Eastern Star
- Sang in the church choir
- Excellent cook
5Susie Lee Bennett Young
April 4, 1914 – Dec 1989
- Lived in Chicago, IL
- Mother of twins
6Lou Ella Bennett Tenant
Sept 9, 1916 – Feb 13, 1981
- Owned a pet Chihuahua
- Loved to cook
7Edna Viola Bennett Thomas
Feb 22, 1917 – Nov 27, 2012
- Lived in Buffalo, NY
- Married at age 16
- Survived three heart attacks in her early 40s and lived another 50 years
Do you have a photo? Please share it.Mary “Dolly” Bennett
Dates being researched
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
9Dora Joan Bennett Bass
Nov 9, 1917 – Nov 5, 2000
- Member, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
- Educator for 40 years
- Claflin College graduate
10Robert Richard Bennett
Sept 20, 1922 – July 5, 1962
- Father of 2 children
- U.S. Army veteran
11Preston Asbury Bennett, Jr.
Born Jan 11 · died Jan 3, 1977
- Served in the U.S. Army
- Very strong
- Very quiet
12Eustace Edward Bennett
June 7, 1924 – Feb 28, 2020
- World War II veteran
- First African American police officer and firefighter in Greenville
- Husband for 71 years
13William Donald Bennett
Dec 27, 1925 – March 4, 1984
- Served in the U.S. Army
- Korean War veteran
- Played the piano
14Carrie Elizabeth Bennett
Nov 5, 1927 – March 6, 2018
- Excellent cook
- Sang in the church choir
- Liked to play horseshoes
Erias & Bessie Bennett
12 children
Do you have a photo? Please share it.William Bennett
Died as a child · dates unknown
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
Do you have a photo? Please share it.Homer Bennett
July 17, 1903 – Feb 15, 1969
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
Do you have a photo? Please share it.Frank Bennett
Born 1906
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
4Bernice “Po Man” Bennett
Aug 29, 1909 – May 13, 1996
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
5Robert Elliot “Red” Bennett
Nov 11, 1911 – June 8, 1979
- Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
- Good Conduct Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Service Ribbon; American Theater Service Ribbon; WWII Victory Ribbon
- Retired from the DC Government
Do you have a photo? Please share it.Alene Bennett Dogan
April 10, 1914 – April 19, 1974
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
7Beatrice Bennett Hagood
Oct 8, 1915 – May 3, 1997
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
8Noah Bennett
Oct 29, 1916 – Feb 1, 1980
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
9Hubert Bennett
Nov 17, 1918 – March 29, 1979
- Baseball fan who pitched for the Taylors team
- Steel plant worker
- Made music with spoons and scrub boards
10Lemuel Bennett
Oct 2, 1921 – May 2, 1979
- World War II veteran
- TEC 4, U.S. Army
- First African American inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame
11Erias Jerry “EJ” Bennett
June 27, 1922 – Oct 30, 2003
- World War II veteran, U.S. Army
- A true Renaissance man
Do you have a photo? Please share it.James E. Bennett
July 15, 1923 – July 5, 1987
- We are still gathering details about this family member.
Help complete the tribute
We need your photos and stories
Several of our ancestors still have no photo or stories here. If you have a picture, a funeral program, a service record, or a memory of any of them, please send it to the History Committee at bennett-family-email@googlegroups.com.
