In the early hours of June 4, Benjamin Lawrence Todd III, 86, passed away after an extended hospitalization in Jackson, Mississippi. Ben was born to Pauline Todd and her husband Benjamin Lawrence Todd, Jr. who was Federal Court Clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of MS under Judges Edwin Holmes and Sidney Mize. Much to the surprise of Ben's parents, Ben was the first of two babies born to the Todds that day. Ben and his twin brother Tom were the youngest of six siblings in the blended Todd family.
Ben grew up with his brothers, Edwin "Ed" Holmes Todd and Thomas "Tom" Gresham Todd, in their family home on West Capitol Street. He attended Jackson Public Schools and graduated from Central High School in 1954. Following high school graduation, he went to Mississippi State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Business in 1959.
After college, Ben moved back to Jackson where he took a job with a life insurance company. That was the beginning of his career of sixty plus years in the insurance business. After some years, he and his brother Tom began their own agencies: Todd & Associates, Inc. and Todd, Davis, Chandler. Over the years, Ben made many business and personal contacts throughout the state of MS which sparked his family to joke that they could not go anywhere that he did not know someone. He was the ultimate salesman whether it be insurance or his daughter's Girl Scout cookies or something you didn't even know you needed! Ben would always try to sell you on it. He never met a stranger and was well known for being quite the character for he was always ready with a joke or silly one liner.
Ben was attending First Baptist Church Jackson when he met his wife of 44 years, Betty Rutland Todd. Ben and Betty met in a formerly married Sunday School class. They were married in the Chapel of FBC Jackson on December 2, 1978, and then moved to their home in Clinton, MS, shortly after. He remained a member of FBC Jackson where he served as usher for many years and regularly attended Sunday School as part of the Berean Class. It was there he was fondly known as "The Donut Man" as he brought a dozen Shipley's donuts to share with his class on Sundays.
Always a car and motorcycle enthusiast, Ben participated in various car clubs: Mississippi Corvette Club, Mississippi Classic Cruisers and Military Vehicle Club as well as being a Wahabi Shriner. He owned many "toys" over the years and claimed his favorite as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Aire two-door hard top. His weekends were often spent travelling around the state attending car shows and working on cars with his friends, affectionately called "The Rat Pack."
When he wasn't working or doing car stuff, Ben enjoyed serving his community of Clinton, MS. He was a city alderman for Clinton's Ward 3 from 1991 to 1997. During this time as alderman, he promoted and successfully assisted in obtaining passage of several major infrastructure improvements as well as strongly advocating for the Clinton Public School District and his local police and fire departments. Additionally, Ben served on the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Huntcliff Homeowners Association, Professional Insurance Agents Association and Central Mississippi Agents Association. Ben was also a 32nd Degree Mason.
Ben loved Mississippi and preferred his home state over anywhere else he traveled. He will be remembered as a man of integrity as well as being funny, kind, and generous. He enjoyed giving to his many friends and his family whom he dearly loved.
His quick wit and sense of humor served him well all the way to his death. He was a devoted and loving husband and father to his wife and children in whom he always expressed great pride. Ben will be missed immensely by his family and many friends.
Ben is preceded in death by his parents Ben L. Todd, Jr. and Pauline Todd and his siblings John C. Williams II, Dorothy Williams Bradley (Walter), Janie Todd and Edwin Holmes Todd (Jeanne); his nephews Edwin Holmes Todd, Jr., and John C. Williams III. He is survived by his wife Betty R. Todd, daughter Lawren Todd and son Greg Heimburger (Shannon and granddaughter McKenzie); twin brother Tom Todd; nieces Melanie Todd Sartain (Brian), Leilani Todd Segal (David), Trisha Bradley Kight (Robie), Sylvia Bradley Timmons (Robert), Racheal Williams and nephew Brad Todd (Kelly).
A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 11:00 AM in the chapel of First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Clinton Police Department, the Clinton Fire Department, Shriners Hospital for Children or a charity of your choice.