Benjamin Dowling, a loved and respected member of each community
he lived and devoted father was born on December 26, 1947 in
Blackville, South Carolina to the late Span and Mary Alice Dowling.
Benjamin was called home and entered eternal rest on the morning of
October 8, 2021 at VA Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Benjamin was reared in Blackville, South Carolina where he graduated
from Macedonia High School. Following high school, he joined the
Army and served honorably during Vietnam. He married Michele
Ellison after leaving the military and upon this union they had two
loving sons and a step daughter. He also had the pleasure of assisting in
raising several more stepchildren from other marriages and
acknowledged them all. He retired from Lincoln Park Academy in Ft.
Pierce, Florida in 2011. Though he has resided in several states,
Blackville, South Carolina has ALWAYS been his home. His passion
was his family, fishing, and cars. Benjamin was always ready and
willing to spend a day fishing, but would willingly set it aside to help
one of his family members or friends. While working at Lincoln Park
Academy in Blackville, he took time to try and counsel the children in
the community to stay out of trouble and have many of them today who
are thankful for his efforts and saddened by his passing.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Alice Dowling and Span
Dowling, Sr.; two brothers: John (Joyce) Wesley Dowling and Span
Dowling, Jr.; and one sister, Ella Bell Dowling Smith.
Benjamin is survived by his two children; Jeromie LaMont Dowling
(Port St. Lucie, FL) and Kevin La Shon Dowling (Ridgefield, WA);
two grandchildren: Deiondre La Monte Dowling (Portland, OR) Kehon
La Shon Dowling (Athens, Alabama); a great granddaughter Gianna
Sevyn Guerrero (Alabama); two brothers: Clary (Odalis) Dowling
(Columbia, SC) and Joe (Bobbie) Dowling, (Columbia, SC); one sisterin-law, Vicki Dowling (Blackville, SC); one brother-in-law, Jimmy
Smith (Hampton, SC); and 12 stepchildren: Evangeline Haynes (VA),
Brooke Somerville (SC), Jerome Ash (SC), Racquel Ash (SC),
Chauneese Greene (SC), Christopher Ash (SC), Khisha Badger (SC),
Orlanthia Oliver (FL), Rhonda Oliver (FL), Johnny Oliver (FL), J.B.
Oliver (FL), and Emanuel Oliver (FL). He also leaves a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.