Benjamin "Ben" Harry Padgett

Benjamin “Ben” Padgett was an avid outdoorsman – his favorite saying was, “Huntin’, fishin’, and lovin’ every minute”. If he wasn’t in the woods with his favorite hunting partner, his wife Bunky, Ben loved being on the tractor helping friends bale hay.  With such a big heart and always willing to lend a hand, the word “No” just wasn’t in his vocabulary. He was known for his smoked meat. He would volunteer to grill for all sorts of events, church functions, large family gatherings, and he also spent years volunteering his time smoking mullet for Lawtey Community School. Ben was a lifelong resident of Bradford County and worked for over 30 years for Dupont until he retired in 2006. He was a faithful member of the Logo Church in Lawtey. Ben loved his family with everything he had and lived life to the fullest. On January 1, 2023, God called him home at the of 67.  Ben is preceded in death by his parents John Thomas and Alma Crews Padgett and his siblings, Thomas Alvin Padgett, Charles David Padgett, and Mary Jane Johnson.

Ben leaves behind to cherish his memories, his loving wife of 19 years, Elizabeth “Bunky” Padgett of Lawtey; his children Donna (David) Harris of Raiford, Wendy Padgett of Gainesville, Vanessa (Allen) Thompson of Lawtey, Dusty (Daniele) Sapp of Waldo, and Austin Deese of Lawtey; his grandchildren, Shelby, Ashley, Lake, Payton, and Ryder; sisters, Betty (Jerry) Fishburn and Tammy (William) Hankerson; and a host of extended family and friends.