Ben C. "Bennie" Higgerson

BEN C. “BENNIE” HIGGERSON, 79, of Benton passed away Saturday evening, March 3, 2018, at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon.

His funeral will be officiated by Father Urban Osugi at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, at the Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Entombment will be in Brady Cemetery in Akin.

Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Ben was born March 27, 1938, in New Madrid, Mo., the son of Benjamin and Shirley (Slater) Higgerson.

He married Melba (Poynor) on March 30, 1959. She died April 27, 1997. His parents, two infant sisters, a sister, Jean Gulley, and a brother, Gerald Higgerson, also preceded him in death.

Ben was an Illinois State Police trooper in District 13 for 28 years, retiring in 1996. Master Sergeant Ray Minor, a long-time friend and colleague, described him as a warrior, friend, and mentor.

He enjoyed woodworking, classic country music, and loved to fish and garden. He was a man with a big heart and a generous soul.

He is survived by four children; Robin (Louis) Giroux of Benton, Pamela (Jeffrey) Janecek of New Lenox, Jeff Higgerson of Normal, Ben (Tishaunda) Higgerson Jr. of Metropolis; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, and his long-time companion, Jody Fotheringhame of Benton. Also surviving are one sister, Linda (Richard) Rouse of Benton, and one brother, David (Suzanne) Higgerson of Canyon Lake, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Ben C. Higgerson Scholarship Fund at the State Bank of Whittington, 200 North Main Street, Benton, IL 62812. It will benefit those pursuing a career in criminal justice.

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