Bennie Jack Warren

Bennie Jack Warren, Sr., age 91, passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at his home in Greensboro, GA, with his family by his side. Jack was born February 1, 1932, to the late Benjamin Joshua Warren and Luby McKinney Warren.  He grew up and attended grade school in Albany, GA.  Shortly after graduating from high school, Jack joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served his country for three years.  After leaving the Coast Guard, he returned to Albany and worked three years before deciding to attend the University of Georgia, where he met Nancy Rivers at the First Baptist Church. After dating for only two months, Jack asked Nancy to marry him, which she did on November 25, 1956.

Jack earned his master’s degree in forestry and had completed all his course work for his PhD in Forestry when one of his professors recommended him for a job as a Forester for Stuckey Timberland in Eastman, GA. After 7 years in Eastman, Jack went back to Athens and worked for the UGA Extension Service where he developed Forestry programs and conducted workshops throughout the state.  His work led him to Bay St. Louis, MS as the Director of a newly formed Forestry and Harvesting Training Center located at the NASA Test Site, which later moved to the Mississippi State College facility in Long Beach, MS.  Jack brought in the best teachers and speakers in the U.S. to provide forestry training to Deans of Forestry Schools, Forestry students, forestry equipment salespeople and many others from foreign countries as well as the U.S.  Another job offer came to Jack to become the Executive Director of Forest Farmers Association (which is now Forest Landowners) in Atlanta.  Jack couldn’t turn down the opportunity to get back to “Dawg” country!!   While at Forest Farmers, Jack became very involved with the Georgia Society of Association Executives.  He has been awarded much recognition for his work advancing the forestry industry, one of which was the 2008 Recipient of the Council on Forest Engineering International Achievement Award (the highest honor of the Council).  Jack never talked about any of his achievements because he was always busy going on to the next thing.

After Jack retired in 1994, he and Nancy became very involved in volunteer work including:  The American Red Cross as a first-aid worker at the University of Georgia football games; the Citizen Review Panel to meet and evaluate all parties involved with Juveniles in the court’s charge and report back to the Juvenile Judge; a rules official for the Georgia Golf Association tournaments; Greensboro Senior Center Board Chairman; various positions in the church and choir; and many more.

Jack’s life was multifaceted, but two things were extremely important throughout his entire 91 years - his family and golf (especially The Masters Golf Tournament).  He dearly loved his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family.  He always managed to make time to coach the baseball teams for the boys as they grew up; play golf as a family; go camping with the family and spent many hours driving a boat to teach all the young ones how to ski.  He loved to travel with Nancy, his family, and close friends, especially to other countries, such as Costa Rica, Australia, Germany, England, Morocco, and many more.  But, in 1957, while visiting in Augusta, Jack’s brother- in-law asked if he would like to go to the golf tournament and Jack’s reply was, “What golf tournament?”  He not only went with his brother-in-law but continued to go to The Masters Golf Tournament for fifty-nine more consecutive years.  And this family tradition continues today.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Nancy Rivers Warren; sons, Bennie Jack “Skeet” Warren, Jr. and Russell “Rusty” Rivers Warren; daughter, Wendy Lee Warren; grandchildren, Daniel Joseph Warren (Amanda), Krista Warren Washburne (Dan), Scott Andrew Warren (Peyton), and Annabelle “Belle” Rivers Warren; and 8 great-grandchildren, Elijauh, Brooklyn, Lizzie, Paisley, Scarlett, Sawyer, Laila, and Jack Ronald; a very special cousin, Mike Rivers, and many very special nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

A memorial service will be held at Walker United Methodist Church, 2730 Walker Church Road in Greensboro at 11:00 am Saturday, April 1, 2023, with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Fellowship Hall.   In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Children Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL, (844) 739-0849, lovetotherescue.org.  McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements.  Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bennie Jack Warren, please visit our floral store.