Monday, March 19, 2007

Roger Bennett Goes Home To Glory

This is from www.southerngospel reporter......(a great site - check it out)


ROGER BENNETT.. HOME FREE
One of Southern Gospel's most beloved artists has passed away. Legacy Five pianist Roger Bennett died Saturday morning (03/17/07), around 8:30. as a result of complications following a long battle with leukemia. He died peacefully at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Bennett was 48 years old.

Debbie Bennett wrote in Roger's on line journal: "Home Free, Oh I've got a feeling, At the ultimate healing, we will be home free!" One of Roger's favorite songs to sing, and now he knows the whole truth about it.

Debbie says: "It has, naturally, been a very hard couple of days for those of us left behind. However, I am overwhelmed by the grace God has poured out on me. I feel a multitude of emotions simultaneously: grief, heartache, and sadness, surely, but also an immeasusrable portion of comfort and peace which I can't explain any other way but God's grace." Read more of Debbie Bennett's comments here: www.rogerbennett.typepad.com

Roger Bennett is survived by his wife Debbie, two children.. Chelsea and Jordan,.. and his father Doug. Reports indicate that the family's preliminary plans are to have a celebration service and burial in Tennessee, and a later memorial service in Strawberry, AR., Roger's hometown.

Roger is well known from his years as the pianist for the Cathedral Quartet. After the Cathedrals’ retirement in 1999, Roger, along with fellow Cathedrals’ member, Scott Fowler, formed a brand new quartet, Legacy Five. “Roger is my best friend, and I will miss him terribly; but I am glad he is finally free from the prison of disease,” stated Scott.

“Roger exemplified true Christianity, true musicianship and true leadership in his time here. We will miss our dear friend, and we look forward to the time when we will all be together again in Eternity,” said Ed Leonard, President of Daywind Music Group.

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Fans and friends can watch a special Roger Bennett video at www.southerngospelreporter.com. The video features Roger and Anthony Burger at PIANORAMA,.. recorded during the 1995 National Quartet Convention.

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ROGER BENNETT
Service Arrangements: Visitation will be held at Brentwood Baptist Church, 7777 Concord Road West, Brentwood, TN on Tuesday, March 20 from 6 to 9 pm. Funeral services will also be held at Brentwood Baptist Church on Wednesday, March 21, at 2 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made:
"In Memory of Roger Bennett"
Southern Gospel Music Trust Fund
P.O. Box 144
Goodlettsville, TN 37070

The family will receive a list of your contributions from the trust fund.