Benjamin Harris Butler

AIKEN – Commander Benjamin Harris Butler, US Navy Retired, died November 18, 2007 in Greenville, SC, and is presently resting in the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who he served his entire life and in which he will rest for eternity. Born in Liberty, MS on November 6, 1914, son of Mary Estelle McGehee Butler and Benjamin Franklin Butler, Commander Butler graduated from Mississippi College with a BS degree in mathematics. He served his country as an electrical engineer in the Navy, retired at Commander level; retired from the TVA and from DuPont. For most of the last years of his life, Harris Butler lived in Aiken and was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where he served as deacon and Sunday School teacher for young men, later becoming a member of Millbrook Baptist Church. After moving to Greenville to be close to his daughter, he was a member of White Oak Baptist Church. During his life, Mr. Butler was a registered member of and served as SC chairman of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Harris Butler was predeceased by Audrea Mae Kerr Butler, his wife of 46 years; his son David Brian Butler; his sisters Mary Elizabeth Hunt and Josie Nell Godbold; his second wife, Nell S. Butler; and by his brother, Dr, George Bergen Butler of Gainesville, FL He is survived by his only daughter, Dr. Julia Elaine Butler Drummond, Greenville, SC; his four grandchildren, William Brian Drummond, Pelzer, SC, Bradley Criswell Drummond, Greenville, SC, Laura Butler Hanford, Mt. Pleasant, SC, Ryan Everett Butler, Charleston SC; six great grandchildren, Keesley-Anne Elizabeth Drummond, Mauldin, SC, Samuel Blackwell Drummond and Calhoun Jackson Drummond, Pelzer, SC, Audrea Mae Watkins, Isle of Palms, SC, Raylyn Hanford and Nicole Hanford, Mt. Pleasant, SC. Funeral services for Benjamin Harris Butler will be in the Shellhouse Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday at 11:30 AM with military graveside interment at Aiken Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials in his honor to support the families of US Veterans. Commander Butler’s family may be contacted at 822 Medora Dr., Greer, SC 29650 Please visit Mr. Butler’s online memorial at http://shellhousefuneralhome.com. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Shellhouse Funeral Home., Inc 924 Hayne Ave., Aiken, SC To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Benjamin Harris Butler, please visit our flower store.