Benny Christian
| Benny Gay Christian | |
| In office 1964–1974 | |
| Preceded by | Lasley J. Downes |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Francis C. Thompson |
| Born | March 17, 1925 Richland Parish, Louisiana |
| Died | August 9, 1982 (aged 57) Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Resting place | Masonic Cemetery in Rayville, Louisiana |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Jean Eddins Christian |
| Children | Raymond G. Christian Carol Jean Christian Sorey |
| Residence | Rayville, Louisiana |
| Religion | Southern Baptist |
Benny Gay Christian (March 17, 1925 – August 9, 1982)[1] was from 1964 to 1974 a Democratic state representative for Caldwell, Madison, and Richland parishes in the northeastern portion of his state. He resided in Rayville, the seat of government for Richland Parish. In his last two years, he served alongside fellow Democrat Lantz Womack, a banker from Winnsboro in Franklin Parish.[2]
Christian served during both administrations of Governor John J. McKeithen and the first two years of the first term of Edwin Edwards. Christian resigned from the House midway in his third term and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Francis C. Thompson[2] of Delhi, also in Richland Parish, who remained in the House until 2008, when he was sworn into office in his first term in the Louisiana State Senate. Thompson began serving his third and final term in the state Senate on January 11, 2016.[3]Then in 2020, Thompson returned to the state House after being term-limited in the Senate.
Christian was married to the former Jean Eddins (1925-2013), who attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then Northeast Louisiana University, from which she received a master's degree. She taught for eighteen years at Holly Ridge High School in the Holly Ridge community in Richland Parish. She then became a supervisor of Business and Office Education in the capital city of Baton Rouge and traveled for a decade as part of her job duties. She worked under four superintendents, Bill Dodd, Louis J. Michot, J. Kelly Nix, and Thomas Clausen. After retiring from the state Department of Education, she taught at Spencer and Gonzales business colleges until she was seventy-two. She died in Monroe in 2013, a day before her 88th birthday.[4]
Christian and his wife had two children, Raymond G. Christian of Baton Rouge and Carol Jean Christian Sorey and husband, Danny, of Monroe.[4] The Christians are interred at the Masonic Cemetery in Rayville.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Benny G. Christian. findagrave.com. Retrieved on February 26, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-2024: Richland, Caldwell, and Madison parishes. Louisiana House of Representatives. Retrieved on February 26, 2021.
- ↑ See who has already won election. Monroe News Star (September 11, 2015). Retrieved on September 12, 2015.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jean Eddins Christian. findagrave.com. Retrieved on February 26, 2021.
