Benjamin Prince Bagwell Sr.

Former Pickens Sentinel editor and publisher, Benjamin Prince Bagwell Sr., age 84, passed away in Cumming, GA on Wednesday, April 26, 2017. He is survived by his son, CPT Ben P. Bagwell, Jr. of Clayton, NC and his daughter, Dr. Mary Kate Reese, of Cumming, GA, and five grandchildren; Cassie Reese, Reagan Bagwell, Jillian Bagwell, Camryn Bagwell, and Chase Reese. He is preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, the late Jane Anderson Bagwell of Hopewell, VA.

Ben was born in Norfolk, VA on December 8, 1932 to the late Eugene C. Bagwell, Sr. of Raleigh, NC and Mary Elizabeth Prince Bagwell of Americus, GA. After graduating high school in St. Augustine, FL, Ben attended the University of Florida for two years before joining the United States Air Force. It was in the Air Force that his love of newspapers began, when he was assigned to be the editor of the base newspaper at Etian AFB in France.

After completing his enlistment, Ben returned to the United States and completed his undergraduate degree at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX and completed graduate studies at Syracuse University’s School of Journalism. He then began a 50 year career as a writer and editor at newspapers in Hopewell, VA, Greenville, SC, Pickens, SC, Plymouth, NC, Stafford, VA, and Petersburg, VA.

He was the author of three books: “Riley, A Story of Hope” documenting the efforts to improve childhood education by the 111th Governor of South Carolina and the Clinton Administration’s Secretary of Education, the honorable Richard “Dick” Riley. Ben also published books chronicling the accomplishments of the football programs at Hopewell High School and Pickens High School.

While a member of the Greenville Jaycees in Greenville South Carolina, Ben established the Greenville Literacy Association and later founded the Adult Literacy Association of South Carolina. He served as the National President of the National Affiliation for Literacy Advance (Laubach Literacy) for two years in the early 70’s and served on the board of directors for the Petersburg, VA Adult Literacy Association. For his dedication to the Adult Literacy in South Carolina, Ben was awarded the 1984 Jefferson Award by the Upstate South Carolina Chapter of the Jefferson Award for Public Service Foundation and the NBC affiliate in Greenville, WYFF.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2017 in the Appomattox Cemetery, on North 21st Street in Hopewell, VA. In lieu of flowers the family asks that gifts be made in Ben’s name to the Cumming United Methodist Church of Cumming, GA.

The family is being served by the Hopewell Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be registered at jtmorriss.com.