Benny Ragland

Benny J. Ragland, Sr., age 76, went home to be with the Lord, May 30, 2022, at the a.m. hour.
He was a lifelong resident of the State of Alabama and was born in Overton, Alabama. His family moved to Brighton, Alabama when he was a child, and this is where he grew up.
When he married and started his family, he moved to Bessemer, Alabama as an adult. Later, he moved to Lipscomb, Alabama where he remarried and lived when he resigned from the earth.
Benny graduated in the Class of 1965 from Brighton High School. Later, he went on to work for Vulcan Material and Stamping. He moved forward and sought employment at O’Neal Steel, Inc. where he joined the Steelworkers Union and became a Union Representative. As a Representative, he was led to hear cases throughout the United States.
Benny also was very much involved in his community as a leader and he courageously led by example. He was a baseball coach; he became a City Councilman by vote and served his community in every aspect. He was a great community leader.
Preceding him in death: his parents, Rozelle and Major Ragland; brothers, Robert and Clarence Ragland; sisters, Mary Ann Fisher and Betty J. Mack.
He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving wife, Merlee Ragland; two children, Lisa (Hartford) Long and Benjamin (Aidrea Ragland) Rainey (born as Benny J. Rainey, Jr.); three sisters, Dorothy Rainey, Olivia Tabb and Jeanette Greene; brothers-in-law, Charles and Bobby Stewart; four grandchildren, Ryan Ragland (Kadeidra Brown Ragland), Shelby Ragland, Hartford Long, II and Riley Long; two children, Ja’Quzeon and Alexander Ragland; a very close knit niece and nephew, Terrilyn and Theron Jackson as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and friends who loved him and he loved very much.
He had a way of expressing himself that just didn’t come out right sometimes. At the end of the day, he loved his family and friends.