Obituary of Lamont Travis Benson

Lamont Travis Benson was born to Wallace and Esther Benson on May 12, 1966. He grew up in Beverly with a wonderful Nan, his three brothers Butch, Robert and Terrance, and sister Rhonda. He attended Beverly City Elementary School and began his career in football playing for Pop Warner alongside his neighborhood friends. He was a little powerhouse wearing #33. He also played baseball as well as basketball and track. During his years in Palmyra High School he excelled in academics as well as becoming All-County and Captain of the Palmyra Pals Football team under Coach Mauer. He won several awards during his career as full back and also Academic scholarships at graduation. He entered Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania where he played football in his freshman year. In the summer, he was a toll booth collector for NJ turnpike. After College, he became insurance man. At this time he married his high school/college sweetheart Diane Jackson on Sept. 19, 1987. They began their married life in Burlington Twp. On Aug. 18,1989, they had their first-born child Daniel Travis. He was such a proud and loving daddy. Daniel was his pride & joy. In 1990, he was hired by The NJ Department of Corrections where he became an officer at Garden State Prison. On Feb. 15, 1992 he became a father for the second time to a daughter named Gabrielle who was his little princess. On June 23 in 1997 he became a father for the 3rd time his little mini me Chynna Danielle. Eventually he became a Seargent and transferred to Mid-State Prison while also serving in SOG during Sept. to Nov. 2001. At this time, he fell seriously ill with Lupus & Kidney disease. After a year and a half of intense rehabilitation, Lamont’s God given strength enabled him to return to work and be promoted to Lieutenant where he returned to Garden State Prison where he worked until two days before his passing. Lamont was a handsome, intelligent, educated, generous, selfless, strong loving father, husband, son, sibling, nephew, cousin, co-worker, and friend who never complained about anything. He loved the novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens; the Wiz; Nat King Cole, Lena Horne, Bette Midler and Luther Vandross. He loved to read, play flight simulator games, ride amusements, ski, and watch football (He loved the Eagles…those scrubs), he liked to bowl and play basketball with his friends on the job. He was grateful to his doctors especially Dr. Hoch and Dr. Kurnik and was fond of his friends at DaVita Dialysis Center. He was also fond of the friends he made in NJ Dept. of Corrections. In his short but full life, Lamont has left a legacy of love, responsibility, hard work, dignity, perseverance and being a child of the Most High. We hold him close to our hearts.