Benjamin Brinson “Ben” Overstreet, age 95, of Dawsonville, GA passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 11, 2022.
Ben was born in Orlando, Florida on December 4, 1926 to the late Samuel Joseph and Annie Belle Brinson Overstreet. His family moved to Emanuel County when he was a young boy and he graduated from Emanuel County Institute in 1942. He attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega, Georgia when it was a two-year college. Upon graduation he enlisted in the U. S. Marines and ended his service on Chi Chi Jima in 1947. Returning to North Georgia College following the end of the war, he met Mary Joe Thompson. They were married after his graduation and moved to Dawsonville where he farmed from 1949 until 2016. In addition to farming corn, soybeans, and tall fescue, Ben raised cattle, hogs, and poultry on his property and neighboring land. In 1956, his land was producing 126 bushels of corn per acre, and by 1973, he was the first farmer in Georgia to produce over 200 bushels of corn per acre. During the years, he won over 200 awards from the state and national corn growers associations. He and his wife, Mary Joe, received the Centennial Family Farm Award from the Department of Natural Resources. This award is for family farms that have continuous operation for more than 100 years. Ben was an avid conservationist of his land and the greater Etowah Valley. He served as a Soil Conservation Supervisor for more than 40 years and was honored to be inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame in 2005. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent cherished time at his beloved cabin in Canoochee, Georgia. He loved to host his friends and family there on hunting and fishing trips. He especially enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the art of hunting and fishing. He and Mary Joe loved to travel and visit many of the states as well as the world abroad. Besides his time spent in farming, Mr. Overstreet was a charter member of the Dawson County Lions Club, served as a director of the Dawson County Bank and continued after it was acquired by United Community Bank, founding member and vice chairman of the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority, vice chairman of the Dawson County Farm Bureau, served as a member of the Dawson County Board of Education and was a member of the Gainesville Junior College Board of Directors when it was founded. Ben was a 50 year member of the Etowah Lodge #222 F & AM. He and Mary Joe were members of the First Baptist Church of Dawsonville. Ben was also preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary Joe, and two brothers, Samuel Joseph Overstreet, Jr., and Robert Lane Overstreet.
Ben is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Jo Ann and Ragin Hause, and Jane and Jerry Smith, both of Dawsonville; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Liza Hause, Henrico, VA, Heather and Chris Albro, LaGrange, KY, Ben Hause, Dawsonville, GA, Jason and Amy Smith, Kennesaw, GA; great grandchildren, Jacob, Ryan, and Lily Albro; Brin, Andrews and Wylie Hause; Catelyn and Chandler Lord and Mary Elizabeth Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Jim Neal, Milledgeville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 11 o’clock at Bearden Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Russell Burt will officiate. Interment services will be held Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 1 o’clock in the Brinson Cemetery in Swainsboro, GA.
The family will receive friends on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 5 until 7 at Bearden Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Dawsonville, 900 Highway 9 North, Dawsonville, GA 30534, or to the Brinson Cemetery Association, c/o Martha Wells, 209 Long View Lane, Pickens, SC 29671.
The family respectfully requests that everyone wear a mask, practice social distancing and follow all COVID-19 guidelines.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beardenfuneralhome.com.
Bearden Funeral Home, Dawsonville, GA.
This obituary is a courtesy announcement by Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors.
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