In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.

Johnnie Ray Bennett left this world on April 21, 2023 due to complications of his respiratory illness, and went home to be with his Lord, family, and friends who had preceded him in passing. He was a long-time resident of Corinth, MS until 2021 when he and his wife relocated to Oklahoma City to join their daughters.

Johnnie was born on March 21, 1948 in Ripley, Mississippi to Preston “Doc” Bennett and Lillie “Mae” (Deen) Bennett. He graduated from Ripley High School in 1966 and attended Northeast Mississippi Community College where he met his sweetheart, Clara Jean Bradley. He served in the Army during 1969-1971 as a Specialist Five Sergeant in Frankfurt, Germany where he worked on Hawk missiles. He married Clara Bradley on August 4, 1970. Following his military service, he attended Mississippi State University and graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He was employed by the Mississippi Department of Transportation for 36 years as a project and resident engineer until he retired in 2010.

Johnnie and Clara were blessed with their first child, Amanda in 1981. In 1986 they were again blessed with another daughter, Jessica. In 2009 they added a son-in-law, Trey Graham, to their family. Their family was made complete in 2015 with the birth of their beloved grandson, John Thomas.

Johnnie enjoyed hugs, woodworking, boating, playing cards, singing, music from the 1960’s and 1970’s, cheering for the Bulldogs, and anything that involved his girls and later his grandson, John Thomas, who was the cherry on his milk shake!

Johnnie loved people! He enjoyed joking and you knew you were loved if he picked on you! He served as an elder at Foote Street Church of Christ for over twenty-one years. He was a Godly man of many talents including playing guitar, water skiing, song leading, and building things from shelves to houses.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his parents, Preston and Mae Bennett, his brother Preston Bennett, and his sister-in-law Katherine Bennett. He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-three years, Clara, his daughters Amanda, and Jessica (Trey), his grandson John Thomas Graham, his brother Paul (Kari) Bennett, and a host of friends and family.