Dr. Cliff Bennett

Dr. William Clifton (Cliff) Bennett

August 16, 1941-March 3, 2025

Cliff Bennett grew up in Mayfield, Kentucky, at first in town where he rode his bicycle to deliver the Mayfield Messenger. Later the Bennetts moved to the family farm in Graves County. His least favorite job was milking the cows. According to him, it was a twice-a-day, seven days a week, every week job. It was the one job, he said he would never do again. And he didn’t!

Following his graduation from Mayfield High School, he entered Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tennessee, where he, during the first week of school, met Nancy Snyder, the girl he would one day marry. At the end of his sophomore year, he transferred to Harding University where he earned his bachelor’s degree.

In 1963, Cliff and Nancy married and moved to East Prairie, Missouri, where they taught math and English in the local high school. During their time there, Nancy gave birth to their three sons: Craig, Darren and Jon. The couple earned their master’s degrees from Southern Illinois University.

For one year, they lived in Fulton, Missouri, where Cliff worked for the state office of vocational rehabilitation as a psychometrist for the deaf throughout Missouri. Shortly after beginning his work there, Freed-Hardeman called to see if the couple had interest in returning to FHC to teach. They answered “Yes!”

They joined the FHC faculty in Fall 1972 and made their home in Henderson for the next 45 years. At Freed-Hardeman, Cliff taught in the behavioral sciences, primarily Marriage and the Family and sociology. He earned an Ed.D. in student personnel services from the University of Memphis. He was also an administrator, serving in several capacities including dean of students and vice president of student services. A daughter, Aimee, was added to the family in 1983.

Cliff was active in Dixie Youth Baseball as a coach, umpire, commissioner and whatever else the league needed—including running the concession stand. Years after his boys quit playing Dixie Youth Baseball, he would say he still had Dixie Youth dirt under his fingernails.

He served as an elder in the Estes Church of Christ for more than 30 years. In addition to teaching Bible classes and occasionally preaching, he made mission trips to England, Scotland, Argentina, Peru, and Haiti. He was, in fact, on the ground doing relief work shortly after the catastrophic earthquake hit Haiti in 2010.

Following retirement, Cliff volunteered with the Chester County Election Commission, where he made many new friends. In addition, he enjoyed playing golf with fellow FHU retirees Hoyt Kirk and Milton Tucker. As Cliff’s health began to fail, the Bennetts moved to Columbia in 2017 to be near their four children and 12 grandchildren.

A true son of Kentucky, Cliff bled blue and was a ‘Cats’ fan all his life. He grew up listening to Cardinal baseball games and remained loyal to the Redbirds. In later years he became a fan of the Titans. In deference to his wife’s orange roots, he occasionally cheered for the Vols—but never when they played Kentucky.

He is survived by his wife of almost 62 years, Nancy; four children and their spouses: Craig (Cyndi); Darren, (Katherine); Jon, (Lisa) Bennett and Aimee Jones (Luke); 12 grandchildren to whom he was known as Papa C: Brock, Gracie, Cole, Emily, Dalton (Carly), Dylan, Dane, Avery, Harper, and Reese Bennett and Baylor and Baker Jones; two brothers, Fuller (Nancy) and Bobby, a sister, Marilyn Jones (Dwight), a brother-in-law, Clois Snyder, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Virginia Bennett, and a sister-in-law, Beth Bennett.

Cliff was a man of God—a faithful Christian, devoted to his family, loyal to his friends, and kind to his neighbors. This world needs more Cliff Bennetts. Having pointed the way for those of us left behind, he has crossed over Jordan. We will meet him there.

Visitation with the family will be at the Estes Church of Christ beginning at noon Thursday, March 6. The funeral will follow at 3 p.m. with Barry England, Jim Selbe and Danny Sorrell officiating. Grandsons will serve as pall bearers. Graveside services will be 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 7, at the Bethel Church of Christ, Mayfield, Kentucky, in the Bennett Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be made to the Cliff and Nancy Bennett Scholarship Fund at Freed-Hardeman University, 158 East Main Street, Henderson, Tennessee 38340.

Shackelford Funeral Directors of Henderson

731-989-2421