Joseph Earl "BOOMER" Benton, Jr.

Joseph Earl "Boomer" Benton, Jr., 51, of Albany, GA passed away Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital. Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, November 5, 2023 from 2:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Radium Springs Gardens, 2501 Radium Springs Road, Albany, GA 31705. Live music will be in honor of Boomer and food will be served. Please bring your most precious memories of Boomer to share.

Boomer (Aka PA Bear) was born March 13, 1972 in Albany, GA to Ruby Moore Benton Renfroe, and the late Joesph Earl Benton Sr.

Boomer was always the life of the party and loved SO big. He loved his daughter, and two granddaughters with all his heart. He loved to spend time with them jumping on the trampoline, riding bikes, swimming, and playing Badminton. They were his greatest joy in life. He had a very special bond with his daughter and granddaughters and created countless memories that will be forever treasured. He was a big kid at heart.

His love for music was also a huge part of his life. Music was his form of communication. He was the Lead singer in several bands, including Stone Stephen and Throttlebox. He had a special bond with those he shared a stage with. His beautiful talent of singing, performing and writing lyrics touched thousands of lives around Albany and surrounding areas. His band Stone Stephen won the Rock 103 Battle of bands and he received an MTV music award. His band Stone Stephen wrote and produced original music, including two of his favorites, "Soul To The Sun" and "Broken Ground." Throttlebox also wrote and produced an original song titled "Today."

He was a painter with Glausier painting and worked with brothers he loved! He loved his job, as he could be creative with his hands and listen to music. Boomer had a special interest in history and loved Vincent VanGogh paintings. 

Boomer had a fun and carefree spirit and lived a simple life. Everyone that knew him loved him. He had the truest soul and cared for others above himself.

His loyalty was most obvious through his love for animals. He cherished his dogs he had over his lifetime Poochie, Roscoe, Puddles and Biscuit. He also loved Cats, from his first cat, Tiger, to his current cats, Meow and Rain, that he rescued from his front yard as a tiny baby kitten in a bad rain storm. He fed Rain from a medicine dropper and saved her life. 

He was a die-hard Georgia Bulldog fan and loved the game and everybody knew he was a Dawg!!! His loving, funny spirit was contagious. He made everyone around him laugh. 

He was a loyal friend and amazing companion, to his girlfriend, Mary. Despite her spinal injury, he protected and looked out for her. Once again proving his heart. They made each other’s life full. Boomer had many close friends that saw him more like a brother. 

His sister, Wanda Jo, was his life-long best friend and biggest fan! He cherished her dearly. His Mama, Ruby was also a special part of who he was. He had her loving personality and willingness to help others. Boomer had Big love for all his extended family including his nephews Rex and Wesley, son-in-law Jordan, brother-in-law John, and step-dad Terry. Also his many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Boomer was a registered organ donor and gave the gift of life and will live on in spirit through others. His lyrics from "Broken Ground", “I'm living my life like a bird, I’m flying up to the sun, I’m standing up on a cloud” “I’m living my life to be free, never to fade away” will stand true for years to come. Boomer was a believer of Jesus Christ and was saved at the age 17. 

Before Boomer had his massive Heart attack, his immediate plans were to go to his granddaughter Hadley’s 11th birthday party. But he ended up going to the biggest and best party of all: his homecoming in Heaven with his Lord Jesus and family waiting to greet him on the other side.

Boomer was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Earl Benton Sr., his grandfather, Early James Benton (PA) , his grandmother, Mildred Benton Thornton (Ninny), grandfather Melvin Julian Moore (PA), and grandmother, Mary Jewel Moore (Granny).

Survivors include, his everything, Mary Potter, Albany, GA, daughter, Kori Benton Hembree (Jordan), Leesburg, GA, mother, Ruby Moore Benton Renfroe (Terry), Albany, GA, sister, Wanda Jo Benton Rowell (John), Worth Co., GA, granddaughters, Hadley Hembree and Hayzlie Hembree and nephews, Rex. Adams, Jr., Albany, GA and Wesley Rowell, Jacksonville, FL.

An amazing celebration of life will be announced soon. We want to feel your love and share in your memories of his unique and special life. 

As Boomer would say, “Peace, Love and Chicken Grease” and "Dat Wut Dat!" 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the American Heart Association or Albany Humane Society.