Our champion, my dad and your loyal friend Adolphus Benedict, lovingly known as “A.D” closed his eyes and went home to be with Jesus on August 30, 2017. He was surrounded by his family and friends who celebrated his life while he yet lived. Many came to express their gratitude while others shared a favorite memory. A few times the hospital halls were filled with his favorite song. One in which he sang along with his beloved brotherhood.

His journey begin August 5, 1932 in Louisville, Kentucky to the late James and Hattie May Benedict. He married his friend and the love of his life, Mary Ann Sanders on April 13, 1980 and in this union of 37 years was a blended family of eleven children. Gloria Stallings of California, Linda (Jeff) Sanders of Ravenna, Adolphus Jr. Benedict of Cleveland, Javon (George) Farley of Texas, Shalamir Benedict of Cleveland, Dorian Burnett of Ravenna, Ricky Benedict (Deceased), Marquetta Sanders of Ravenna, Paul Sanders of Warren, Robert Sanders of Chicago and Charmaine Sanders of Ravenna.

Adolphus Benedict graduated from High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1950. He worked as a truck driver at Times Steele for 20 years and at Colonial Rubber where he retired. He was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost in 1984 at the United Church of Jesus Christ. He served as a Senior Deacon and the State Treasurer for the Churches of Our Lord Jesus Christ Ohio Diocese, President of the Apostolic Choir and Treasurer of the United Church of Jesus Christ Brotherhood. He served faithfully until he was no longer physically able at which time he served as a advisor to the brotherhood staff. Adolphus enjoyed spending time socializing about the Lord and scriptures with the members of his church family, traveling to conventions and church convocations, hunting and fishing with Wallace, Danny, Buck, Wesley and many of his buddies. Every Saturday morning he started his day at Denny’s with Michael, Jeff and his son Dorian. He never met a stranger. He loved people; he loved church and his church family. To list everything that he enjoyed would take a lifetime but family, his children and his friends meant everything. He leaves to cherish his memory, his lovely wife Mary Ann Benedict, his children, 24 grandchildren, 56 great and great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brothers James Wesley Benedict, Leroy Benedict, Bruce Benedict, Brian Benedict and David Benedict, all of Cleveland, Ohio; his sisters Rose Benedict, Ana Benedict both of Newark, New Jersey and Millie Marion Benedict and one Grandson, Damone Wagner of Ravenna, Ohio.