Bennie Lane,

LANE, Mr. Bennie James, Sr. - Age 72, on November 13, 2011, after courageously fighting brain cancer and the effects of the disease for 2 years and 9 months, Bennie gave his last earthly smile on his favorite day of the week, Sunday at Brian's House in Davision, MI. Funeral service 11 a.m. Friday, November 18, 2011 at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 6415 N. Clio Rd. Rev. A.J. Harris, officiating. Pastor Wallace Hill III, Host Pastor. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 11 a.m. Friday. Mr. Lane will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd, from 12Noon-8p.m. Thursday. Mr. Bennie James Lane, Sr. was born Aug 15, 1939 in Montgomery County, Georgia to Willie Floyd and Dessie (Gillis) Lane. Bennie accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at an early age. He was educated in the Montgomery County School System. Upon graduating he left Georgia and lived in Miami, FL and moved back home to Uvalda, GA to drive the school bus when his dad became ill and was also a school cook. “BJ” could make a mean pound cake! After some of his friends and family moved to Flint; Bennie made his way here also. He began his General Motors Career November 30, 1964 and rarely missed work retiring on July 31, 2000. Bennie had a passion for music, even having his own singing group in Georgia. He was a member of Bethel UMC’s Gospel Choir, Senior Choir, Male Chorus and the Eureka Lodge Glee Club. Bennie was a dedicated church member and was faithful in his service to the Lord. He had been a Sunday School Teacher, Van Driver, Usher, Bible Class Member, Certified Lay Speaker, Kitchen Worker and Stewardship Leader. Bennie was a member of Eureka Lodge #16 and was a Past Master; he also served in other houses of the Masonic Organization as well. He was knowledgeable in God’s word and even in sickness could recall scriptures without hesitation. “BJ” was a member of Bethel UMC until he and his family moved to Lawrenceville, GA in 2008. Upon returning to Flint in 2010, Bennie united with Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, although he couldn’t attend services like he would have loved too, he loved his Pastor and Church family—talking about Pastor’s sermons long after he had heard them personally or by CD. Bennie was known for his smile. Every medical office he visited the staff would always comment on his smile and how he would light up a room when he did, which even in sickness he did often. He has left in God’s loving embrace: wife, Yolanda “Peaches” Lane; twin daughters, Jada M. and Jalese M. Lane of Mount Morris, MI, Marva (Rodney) Siau of Dawson, GA and Robin (Simon) Hines of Riceboro, GA; sons, Bennie J. Lane, Jr. of Detroit, MI, Marquis D. Lane of Tampa, FL and Trevis L. Terry of Santa Rosa, CA; 11 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; father and mother-in-Law, Lamar and Edith Whitaker; brother, W.C. (Mildred) Lane; sisters, Clara Broomfield, Lelia Mae (J.W.) Thomas, Alice Campbell and Okella Wiggins; aunts, Sally Thomas, Beulah Gillis and Cora Lee Gillis; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, including Pastor and First Lady Hill and the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church family. Brothers of Eureka Lodge #16 and special friends: Rev. and Sis. Crayton Acker of Fairburn, GA, Mr. Lonnie Urquhart of Grand Blanc, MI, the Willis, White and Soilberry families. Mr. Lane was preceded in his heavenly transition by his parents. Cousin, Doll, thanks for the daily laughs and check-ins we are truly our mother’s daughters! To my sister circle-Treata, Toot and Veronica thanks for the shoulders!! Special thanks to our Pastor and First Lady Hill and Mt. Pisgah Church family, Rev. Alfred Harris, Jr. and the Saints of God Church, Rev. Dr. Tara Sutton and the Bethel UMC; Ms. Crutchfield and the Academy of Flint Charter School - staff and students; Dr. Trevor Singh and the McLaren Cancer Center of Flint, MI; the executive staffs of Heartland Fostrian Rehabilitation Center Flushing, MI and McLaren Visiting Nurse and Hospice Program especially Brian’s House Davison, MI; Dr. Caroline Mathews and Staff of Flint; Dr. Christopher Hagenstad and Staff, Neurosurgeon, Dr. Princewill Ehirim and Staff, Speech Therapist, Janet Tolliver all of Lawrenceville, GA. A Big Hug and thanks to each Brian’s House, Fostrian Rehab Center and McLaren Home Health Care-Chaplin, RN, LPN, CNA, Dietary Aide, Social Worker and Physical Therapist that cared for and watched over Bennie. May each one of you continue to be the compassionate, kind hearted and devoted caregivers that helped Bennie during his Illness. Each one of you saw BJ’s inclines and declines during his battle and just know that he didn’t decline this last time, he inclined straight to HEAVEN!

Bennie Lane,

August 15, 1939 - November 13, 2011