Asa William Bennett

Graveside services for Asa William “Bill” Bennett, 67, of Washington, were held Tuesday, December 29, 2009, at Resthaven Cemetery, Washington, followed by a memorial service at the Episcopal Church of the Mediator at 2:00 p.m. He died Thursday, December 24, at Emory Hospital in Atlanta.

Mr. Bennett was a native of Wilkes County and was the son of the late Asa Monroe Bennett and Annie Leila Wells Bennett of Washington. He was the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Robert Bennett of Washington and the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Corley Wells of Valdosta. He was a member and former senior warden of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Washington.

Mr. Bennett graduated from Washington-Wilkes High School in 1960 where he participated in school clubs and academic organizations and was a member of the Tiger football team. He attended Oxford College of Emory University before transferring to the University of Georgia where he received a bachelor’s degree in History in 1964. After teaching history at Oxford of Emory for two years, he returned to Washington-Wilkes to found the Bennett Implement Company and to farm. He was a member and served a term as president of the Georgia Farm Equipment Association. In 1985, he became a certified public accountant and established the CPA firm of Bennett, Davidson, and Associates. He was a member of the American Association of Certified Public Accountants in addition to sitting on the board of directors for United Community Banks and Life of the South Insurance Company.

Very active in community affairs, Bennett was past treasurer of the Washington-Wilkes Humane Shelter Association and the Washington- Wilkes Arts Foundation. He was a former member of the Mary Willis Library Board and chairman of the North Alexander School Association.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Evelyn Coulter Bennett of Washington; a daughter, Katherine Elise Bennett of Columbus, Ohio; and two sisters, Joyce Bennett Crouch of Amherst, Massachusetts, and Mary Ann Bennett Hawkins of Morrow.

Honorary pallbearers included Marvin McAvoy, Pete Kopecky, Davd Olmstead, Jim Burton, and John Davidson of Washington; Carol Burt of St. Simons Island; Henry Mann of Atlanta; Jimmy Tallent and W.C. Nelson of Blairsville; and Butch Houston of Nashville.

Memorials may be sent to the Washington-Wilkes Humane Shelter Association, P.O. Box 121, Washington 30673; North Alexander School Association, P.O. Box 922, Washington 30673; or the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, P.O. Box 716, Washington 30673.

Hopkins Funeral Home of Washington was in charge of arrangements.