Larry Clinton Benton

Larry Clinton Benton, 70, of Moultrie and formerly of Thomasville, died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at Colquitt Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10, at Baker Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Bobby Wiard officiating. Burial will follow in Sardis Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Alvis Benton Jr., Gage Benton, Timothy Riddle, Michael Riddle, Mike Davis, Rodney Mills, Jeff Boyette and Mathew Lawson. Born Nov. 16, 1940, in Thomas County, Ga., he was the son of the late Willie Lee and Estelle Nesmith Benton. He was a retired metal fabricator from Davco Manufacturing in Thomasville and a member of New Jerusalem Freewill Baptist Church. A dirt track racer for 30 years, he racked up numerous wins and championships at several tracks in South Georgia and North Florida. He began his love of dirt tracking at Patten Speedway outside Thomasville. "He was notorious on the track, living up to his "Lead Foot" nickname with many dedicated followers and wife and daughters in tow," his family said. He was also preceded in death by a brother, W.L. Benton. Survivors include his wife, Jane Carruthers Benton; two daughters, Tracey Riddle and husband Bryan of Barwick, and Terry Williams and husband Vincent of Cairo; two brothers, Charles Alvis Benton Sr. and wife Tina of Norman Park, and Herman and wife Lisa of Panama City, Fla.; two sisters, Elizabeth Chance and husband Howard of Boones Mill, Va., and Doris Lewis of Panama City, Fla.; two granddaughters, Jami Conrad and husband Eric of El Paso, Texas, and Morgan Williams of Cairo; two grandsons Timothy Riddle and wife Kayla of Valdosta and Michael Riddle of Barwick; three great-grandchildren, Carson Conrad, Kayden Blume and Braylon Riddle; and several nieces and nephews.