Bennie Franklin Jarmon, 76, departed this life to be with the Lord on March 31, 2016. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Leila Jones Jarmon, of 55 years, three months, and 16 days. He has three children, Karen Jarmon (Florence, Alabama), Greg Jarmon and wife, Loretta, (Tyrone, Georgia), and Jamaal Jarmon (Florence, Alabama). His son Rodney Jarmon returned to the Lord in 2006. From his off-spring he has three grandchildren, Jeremy Jarmon (Florence, Alabama) and Allen and Sydney Jarmon (Tyrone, Georgia). Bennie was the son of the late Earnest and Omelia Jarmon.
Born Feb. 4, 1940, he was baptized in the name of Jesus at an early age. Bennie attended Leighton Training School along with his siblings. An athletic and fit youth, he and his many friends played football and basketball for the school. Energetic and bright the young man graduated with the class of 1958. If you knew the man you knew him to be a hard worker, a provider, and a brilliant and loving man who always strategically planned, because his steps were ordered by the Lord.
The Lord brought him into the world to be a blessing to others. Always the funny, joking, happy man, Bennie never met a stranger. His big heart opened to become a father-figure for many young men. The consummate thinking father was a financial genius who taught co-workers how to manage and multiply their money to care for their families.
There was not a selfish bone in his body. Bennie provided not only for his family but the many friends that his children brought home; a family man in every way was a provider for all. The man could repair anything. The patriarch was a gifted brick mason by profession, but God blessed him with the gifts to complete minor projects of carpentry, plumbing, electrical, welding and was an overall “do-it-yourself” patriarch.
His charity spread to the local at-risk youth organization Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Alabama as the resident “repairman,” and the organization could always count on a sizable donation several times per year. His charity knew no limits when it came to his grandchildren. Outside his family, his generosity and wisdom touched the lives of three adoptive sons, Larry Tisdale, Greg Law, and T. Eric Nathan. Bennie had friends who were close to him and he spoke to them often: James Garrison, “TD” Darling, Bill Hamilton, Cornelius Langford, and Arthur Putnam.
As his life entered the third trimester, the mature patriarch, who knew the Lord, well served as a steward and was a faithful member of Bailey Springs AME Church at the time of his departure where his daughter is the pastor. The Lord ordered his steps and Bennie delighted himself in the Lord until he was called to enter the Kingdom. As the sun sets on a different journey, “a good man will obtain favor from the Lord, and we will see him in the New Kingdom.”
Special gratitude is extended to doctors Felix A. Morris, Hisham A. Baalbaki, the ER trauma team, the Critical Care unit, and the sixth floor nursing team at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital who so lovely cared for Bennie above and beyond the call of duty.
Words elude us as we attempt to express our warmest gratitude. Thank you to all who have embraced the Jarmon family with your love and compassion.
