April 4, 2020

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” Psalms 27:1

Graveside services for Robert Guy Bender, 80, of Picayune, MS will be held Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Picayune Cemetery. Rev. Dr. Michael Kelley will officiate at the service.

Robert G. Bender was born September 12, 1939 to the late David Lee Bender and the late Minnie Lee Moore Bender in Picayune, MS. At an early age, Robert accepted Christ at St. Matthews Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. E. H. Potter and was a member of the male choir under the leadership of Rev. Michael Kelley. Robert received his education at George Washington Carver High School Class of 1959 and Coahoma Junior College Class of 1962.

On January 23, 1965, Robert united in Holy Matrimony to Dorothy Jean Bender. He retired in 1992 from The New York Transit Authority.

On April 4, 2020, at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS, the Lord reached down from heaven and took Robert by the hand. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Lee Bender and Minnie Lee Moore Bender; six brothers, D. L. Bender, L. G. Bender, Sandy Bender, Bryant Bender, Joseph Benders, and Newman Bender; three sisters, Clara Mae Bender Davis, Audrey Bender Magee, and Christine Bender Williams; one grandson, Marcus Smith; and one granddaughter, Malika Green.

He leaves to cherish his loving memories, his wife of 55 plus years, Dorothy Jean Bender; three daughters, Debra Sue (Dawud) Shabazz, of Gastonia, NC, Sharon Elaine (Mark) Winnegrad, of Bronx, NY, and Cassandra Satcher-Bender, of San Francisco, CA; one son, Robert M. (Sierra) Bender, of Picayune, MS; one sister, Mary Helen Richardson; and one brother, James (Georgia) Bender, of Picayune, MS; twelve grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Entrusted to Brown’s Funeral Home. In order to stay within the guidelines of COVID-19, the services will be recorded live on Facebook (www.facebook.com/viewhomegoingnow). The limit of attendees is 10 people. When that number is met you can feel free to tune into Facebook for a live recording on your device. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date at St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church.