Mr. Claude Benjamin "Benjie" Thompson, age 40, died Saturday morning, May 23, 2009 at the McGraw Center for Caring in Jacksonville, Fla.

Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the Statesboro First Baptist Church with Dr. John Waters officiating assisted by Rev. Bucky Strickland.

Interment was in the Elam Baptist Church Cemetery in Jenkins County.

The Jenkins County native was a 1986 graduate of Jenkins County High School and had been residing in Statesboro for over two years. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving for four years. Mr. Thompson attended Georgia Southern University for two years and was a graduate of Southern Technological Institute with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was a licensed surveyor having been employed with Jordan, Jones and Goulding of Macon and EMC Engineering of Statesboro.

Mr. Thompson attended the Statesboro First Baptist Church where he was a member of the Promise Keepers Sunday School Class. His hobbies included golf, hunting, fishing and spending time with his children. Benjie was an avid UGA fan. He was preceded in death by his father, Hugh Thompson.

Surviving are his wife, Robin Rountree Thompson, of Statesboro; his children, Gracie and Cale Thompson, of Statesboro; his mother, Gwen R. Thompson, of Millen; his motherin law and father-in-law, John and Faye Rountree, of Twin City; a sister and brother-in-law, Pansey T. and Will Gay, of Millen; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ben and Patia Rountree of Statesboro; two nieces, Emily Gay and Ella Faith Rountree and a nephew Will Gay.

Pallbearers were Dewey Newton, Hud Mcteer, John Gowan, Monte Tolleson, David Baltz, Kirt Woods, Michael Small and Doug Richardson.

Honorary pallbearers were Jeremy Lindsey and members of the Promise Keepers Sunday School Class.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 108 North Main St. Statesboro, Ga. 30458.

Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.

Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home of Statesboro was in charge of the arrangements.