Benny Franklin Buggs
Funeral services for Benny Franklin Buggs were held at 3:30 pm on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from the Cedar Grove Baptist Church with Bro. Zach Wright officiating. Burial followed in Cedar Grove Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Newton County Funeral Home.
Mr. Buggs, age 75, and a longtime resident of Newton, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2025 at Neshoba General Hospital in Philadelphia.
Benny loved his grandchildren dearly, encouraging them academically, and proudly (and loudly) leading cheers at Leake Academy basketball games. He loved his country and Cedar Grove Baptist Church where he prioritized investing in the youth ministry. A self-proclaimed food critic, he developed a following through his Facebook “Eating with Benny” page, and was always on the search, for the best chicken and dumplings and a hamburger steak like BORO’S used to serve. (and if you are in the Meridian area, stop by Mr. Rodgers Hamburgers and ask for the “Benny Burger.”) Benny retired from MDOT where he worked in an engineering capacity and also spent several years at Joe McGee Construction. He enjoyed a variety of hobbies throughout his life, including carpentry, painting, hunting, fishing, wood burning, golfing, cooking, taxidermy, and coin collecting. Before his death, he proudly completed reading through the Bible and would encourage you all to do the same. He would also ask, :Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?” as he did to countless people he encountered.
He was preceded in death by his father, L.C. Buggs and his mother, Merle Gibbs Buggs Ryder; one infant brother, Charles Buggs; maternal grandparents, Lewis and Emma Gibbs and paternal grandparents, Walter and Bernice Buggs.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Connie Faye Massey Buggs of Newton; one daughter, Valeria Michelle Prince (Philip) of Philadelphia; four grandchildren, Miriam Prince, Samuel Prince, Sarah Prince, and Andrew Prince, all of Philadelphia; one sister, Rhonda Buggs Stodard (Darrell) of Tallahassee, FL; one sister-in-law, Sandra Morgan of Philadelphia; two nephews, Waylon Miller of Ackerman and Chance Massey of Bush, LA and several cousins.
Pallbearers were Levie Weir, David Everrett, Robert Gibbs, Mark Spence, Mike Spence, Stephan Sykes, and Kent Mayes.
Honorary pallbearers were Rayphord Bounds and Brian Chaney.
Musicians for the service were Mark Spence and Tiffany Wright.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 one hour prior to the funeral services at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cedar Grove Baptist Church Mission Fund or Cemetery Fund, 2548 Cedar Grove Rd. Newton, MS 39345.
Newton County Funeral Home – South, 100 Old Hwy. 15 Loop, Newton, served the Buggs family.
An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com.