Horace E. Benton was 16 when he started working at Walter's Clothing.
The job at the downtown Atlanta anchor started out like many teen jobs: just a way to make a little money and help out the family. But a bond formed between the Bentons and store owners Walter and Estelle Strauss.
Mr. Benton's relatives were customers. Two of his brothers also worked at Walter's. His mother taught Mrs. Strauss how to cook.
"We have been a close family for at least 50 years," Mrs. Strauss said. "He came to us from high school. His family has always been a part of my family. They were there when my children were born."
Mr. Strauss, the store's namesake, called Mr. Benton a brother. He lamented the fact his right-hand man didn't beat the colon cancer that was diagnosed in 2008.
"He never spoke a bad word and never used a vulgarity," Mr. Strauss said. "He worked for me for 49 years, and I can tell you he made me. I always felt he would come back."
For nearly two years, Mr. Benton, of Decatur, underwent chemotherapy, but liver tumors still formed. He died Friday at his home from complications of the disease. He was 65. A funeral was held Tuesday at Lithonia's Big Miller Grove Missionary Baptist Church. Gregory B. Levett and Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. handled arrangements.
Mr. Benton's family has deep DeKalb County roots. A road in Lithonia bears the family name, and relatives were pioneers at Big Miller Baptist, site of the funeral.
He attended the Bruce Street School and was in high school when he joined Walter's. This June, he would have celebrated his 50th year of employment at the famous store on Decatur Street.
"He started out helping himself and his family, and he stayed there," said Shirley B. Benton, his wife of seven months. "He liked the people."
Co-workers and friends described an easy-going store manager who carried himself with aplomb. He worked six days a week and would appear at any hour in response to a burglary or vandalism.
"He was not just an employee," said Freddie West, a friend from Lithonia. "He was like extended family."
In 1970, Grady K. Culpepper, a store supervisor, started working at the business. Mr. Benton, he said, preferred the "neater look" but still supported the store's move to sell urban wear.
"He was an extremely sharp dresser," Mr. Culpepper said. "He knew all about the merchandise, materials and things like that."
When it came to attire, "decency was always in order," his wife said. "I think he liked today's relaxed, casual look of dressing if decency was in order."
Though married less than a year, Mrs. Benton harbors no regrets.
"I can't complain," she said. "We had happy times."
Additional survivors include two sisters, Bessie Mae Durden and Lois Guthrie, both of Lithonia; four brothers, James Benton, Jessie "Jake" Benton, John Benton and Howard Benton, all of Decatur; one stepson, Robert Hamler of Decatur; and one stepgrandson.
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