Benjamin Brinson “Ben” Overstreet, 95
Funeral services for Benjamin Brinson “Ben” Overstreet, 95 of Dawsonville, were held Saturday, January 15, 2022 at 11a.m. inside the chapel of Bearden Funeral Home in Dawsonville with Rev. Russell Burt officiating. Interment took place Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Brinson Cemetery in Swainsboro. The family received friends Friday, January 14, 2022 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bearden Funeral Home. He passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2022 peacefully at his home.
Mr. Benjamin Brinson “Ben” Overstreet was born December 4, 1926 in Orlando, Florida to the late Samuel Joseph and Annie Belle Brinson Overstreet. His family moved to Emanuel County when he was a young boy, and he graduated from Emanuel County Institute in 1942.
Mr. Overstreet attended North Georgia College in Dahlonega when it was a two-year college. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and ended his service on Chi Chi Jima in 1947.
Returning to North Georgia College following the end of the war, he met Mary Joe Thompson. They were married after his graduation and moved to Dawsonville, where he farmed from 1949 until 2016.
In addition to farming corn, soybeans, and tall fescue, Mr. Overstreet raised cattle, hogs, and poultry on his property and neighboring land. In 1956, his land was producing 126 bushels of corn per acre and by 1973, he was the first farmer in Georgia to produce more than 200 bushels of corn per acre.
Over the years, he won more than 200 awards from the state and national corn growers associations.
He and his wife also received the Centennial Family Farm Award from the Department of Natural Resources. This award is for family farms that have continuous operation for more than 100 years.
Mr. Overstreet was an avid conservationist of his land and the greater Etowah Valley. He served as a soil conservation supervisor for more than 40 years and was honored to be inducted into the GACDS Hall of Fame in 2005.
Further, he was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent cherished time at his beloved cabin in Canoochee. He loved to host his friends and family there on hunting and fishing trips. He especially enjoyed teaching his grandchildren the art of hunting and fishing.
He and Mary Joe loved to travel; they visited many of the states as well as the world abroad.
Besides his time spent in farming, Mr. Overstreet was a charter member of the Dawson County Lions Club, served as a director of the Dawson County Bank and continued after it was acquired by United Community Bank. He was also a founding member and vice chairman of the Etowah Water and Sewer Authority, vice chairman of the Dawson County Farm Bureau, served as a member of the Dawson County Board of Education, and was a member of the Gainesville Junior College Board of Directors when it was founded.
Mr. Overstreet was a 50-year member of the Etowah Lodge #222 F&AM, and he and his wife were members of First Baptist Church of Dawsonville.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Overstreet was preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary Joe, and two brothers, Samuel Joseph Overstreet Jr., and Robert Lane Overstreet.
Survivors include his daughters and sons-in-law, Jo Ann and Ragin Hause and Jane and Jerry Smith, both of Dawsonville; grandchildren, Jeffrey and Liza Hause of Henrico, Virginia, Heather and Chris Albro of LaGrange, Kentucky, Ben Hause of Dawsonville, and Jason and Amy Smith of Kennesaw; great-grandchildren, Jacob Albro, Ryan Albro, and Lily Albro, Brin Hause, Andrews Hause, and Wylie Hause; Catelyn Lord and Chandler Lord, and Mary Elizabeth Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Ann and Jim Neal of Milledgeville; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Dawsonville (900 Highway 9 North, Dawsonville, GA 30534) or to the Brinson Cemetery Association, c/o Martha Wells (209 Long View Lane, Pickens, SC 29671).
This obituary is a courtesy announcement by Durden-Hudson Funeral Directors.