Mr. Benny Alton Harkins, age 83, of Cleveland, Georgia, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2014 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.
Memorial services are scheduled for 11:00 am Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Dewberry Baptist Church No. 2 with inurnment to follow in the church cemetery. The Reverends Darin Cain and Robert Nix along with Chaplain Andee Courson will be officiating the service. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday, May 22, 2014 at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel.
Mr. Harkins was born January 16, 1931 in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of the late John Ernest Harkins and Amanda (Mandy Ingram) Harkins. He graduated from Riverbend High School in May of 1948. He began his career in the military serving with the United States Air Force, U.S. Army and Georgia Air National Guard. Mr. Harkins began working for the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia retiring in 1986 after 20 years of service.
Mr. Harkins married the love of his life, Gaynell (Satterfield) Harkins on April 10, 1955 (celebrating 59 beautiful years of marriage), and they resided in Albany, Georgia from 1966 until 2001. While living in Albany, Mr. Harkins earned multiple degrees at Albany Area Technical College. He and Mrs. Harkins then moved to Cleveland, Georgia to enjoy their retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his loving wife, Gaynell Harkins of Cleveland; daughters Teresa Gay (Harkins) Lindauer (Mark), Susan Marie (Harkins) Luckie (Randy) and son, Bruce Allen Harkins; grandsons, Randall Brent Luckie (Kayla), Kyle Eric Luckie (Jessica) and granddaughter, Breanna Alexandra Harkins and great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Rylee, Wyatt, Kinsley and Sophia Luckie; sisters, Ernestine (Harkins) Wiley and Audrey (Harkins) Rogers.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the White County Food Pantry where he was an avid supporter P.O. Box 356 Cleveland, GA 30528 or to Hospice of Northeast Georgia c/o The Medical Center Auxiliary, Inc. 743 Spring Street Gainesville, GA 30501
Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, GA 30501. 770-297-6200 or for those who desire online condolences at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.
