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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/19/2007 8:22:08 PM
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DOVEFAN
Posts: 33
Joined: 2/1/2007
From: I think I live somewhere in NC...:)
Status: offline
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I'm sure my lil 4'10 120 pound (soak N wet) granny will be on the front row, celebratin' and singin along with them! (She passed away in June of '89)
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/19/2007 11:54:19 PM
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LTremmel1942
Posts: 1
Joined: 3/19/2007
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I've been a fan of Legacy Five for about six years. During that time I grew to truly respect and admire Roger for his undying faith and courage in the face of a very serious illness. I know that death is only another beginning but it is also the "Great Unknown". Roger faced it without flinching and his love for God never waivered.
I placed a tribute to Roger on YouTube. You may view it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-A2bFzmZhM
I love you Roger. God bless Debbie, Chelsea and Jordan.
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 12:19:56 AM
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shimmer28
Posts: 3
Joined: 3/20/2007
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ROGER BENNETT---1959-2007-SINGER, SONGWRITER, PIANIST, FATHER, HUSBAND,
BROTHER------"A CHILD OF GOD"
THE CROSSING WAS AN EVENT WE WILL ALL DO.
ROGER IS RESTING, WITH GOD THIS VERY MOMENT.
NO MORE PAIN, ANXIETY, NO MORE TEARS IN THAT CITY
HE'S ABIDING NOW, IN HIS FATHERS HOUSE.
ROGERS ABIDING IN THE LORD JESUS, HAS GIVEN
HIM PERFECT REST, HE HAS PASSED THE TEST.
"COME HOME MY CHILD"!..ITS TIME TO REST. shimmer28
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 6:52:48 AM
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L5FanLady
Posts: 4784
Joined: 3/17/2006
From: Kalamazoo, MI
Status: offline
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Here is a story that Libbi Stuffle told in the Perry's email newsletter:
By now, the whole Gospel music world has heard about the passing of our
friend Roger Bennett. It just doesn't seem real, but God decided to
give Roger the greatest healing ever!!!! I can't help but to reflect back
to NQC this past year at the Songwriter's showcase. Legacy Five and the
Perrys both were privileged to be on the showcase. After it was over
all of the artists were leaving the stage, when I noticed Roger leaning
up against the wall with a strange look on his face. I walked over to
him and said, ok I want the truth, are you feeling ok? He looked at me
and said no I'm not. I ask him if he needed help getting out of there and
to some place where he could rest for a little bit and he said yes. I
turned around and told Tracy to get about 4 guys to get around Roger and
walk him out without making a commotion. We were successful until we
got out into the hall way and folks just started running up to him
telling him their stories.
Roger being as graceful as always stood there trying to not let the
people know he wasn't feeling good. Finally, Tracy walked over to him and
said Roger, you need to go to the exhibit hall (which was empty). When
we finally walked thru the doors of the exhibit hall he was almost to
the point of passing out. We took him to Karen Peck's booth and had him
lay down on the couch that was in her booth. He called someone on his
phone to come and get him. He couldn't thank us enough for helping him
out. That night while Legacy was waiting to go on stage, we had just
came off the stage, he grabbed me and said, hey listen, thank yall again
for helping me out today I don't know what I would have done without the
help. I told him we were honored to be there for him, then he laughed
and said, I've never had body guards like that before I kinda enjoyed
it! We both sat there and laughed about it then, but at the time it
wasn't funny at all. Roger was a true picture of grace! He fought a long
hard fight and you know what, HE WON!!! Roger we will miss you, but we
will find you again!! Please pray for his wife, Debbie and kids, Chelsea
and Jordan. www.legacyfive.com
_____________________________
LOOK UP!! For your redemption draweth nigh....
I will always be a big-time Roger Bennett Fan!! 
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 8:34:32 AM
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Smokymtnsanta
Posts: 14360
Joined: 6/13/2006
From: The North
Status: online
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From Paul Heil's Gospel Greats Newsletter:
Paul's Epistle...
"Remembering Roger Bennett"
Another exceptional Southern Gospel music friend has made the crossing.
Legacy Five pianist Roger Bennett, who suffered with a rare form of leukemia for almost a dozen years, died Saturday morning (March 17) as a result of complications from his ongoing cancer treatment. Roger was just 48.
Back in 1979, Roger got the opportunity of a lifetime when Glen Payne and George Younce invited this young Strawberry, Arkansas, native to become pianist with the Cathedrals. Although he took a two-year hiatus away from the group (1987-1989 during which Gerald Wolfe was pianist), Roger was the Cathedrals' pianist right through the group's 1999 retirement. Then he, along with fellow Cathedral Quartet alumnus Scott Fowler, formed Legacy Five.
Those are the biographical facts. Now permit me some personal observations...
Have you ever met someone for the first time and immediately considered that person a friend? That's how I felt with Roger Bennett the first time I interviewed him back in 1980 when he was the new kid with the Cathedrals. Oh, surely the friendship grew over the years. But Roger was, in fact, the kind of person anyone would love to have as a best friend.
Roger was, of course, an exceptional pianist. In fact, Singing News readers voted him "favorite Southern Gospel pianist" for fourteen years in a row (1993-2006). But his outgoing personality on stage (and off stage for that matter) became, for many, much more of who Roger Bennett was. His piano artistry seemed almost secondary. Somehow, I think that's the way Roger wanted it, because it allowed him to communicate with people as only Roger could. His emcee role with Legacy Five provided the perfect outlet for this gift.
Roger had a great sense of humor. It was innate. But the way he exhibited it in concert was fine-tuned by exposure to the expert at this, the late George Younce. Roger could be deadly serious one moment, and then, suddenly, inject humor in such a way that the serious point he was making became all the more memorable. Examples of his quick wit often came unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning out of a clear blue sky. Effective. And memorable.
Roger was an encourager. He encouraged audiences by his very presence, especially in his latter years. He was always supportive of other groups and other forms of ministry. Looking back over my interview transcripts from the past quarter-century, it seems Roger seldom failed – as part of an interview – to encourage us in our work through the broadcast. Back in 1999, he and Scott Fowler even allowed my program to be the catalyst for finding a new name for their new quartet through an on-air contest, and they visited my studio when the time came to telephone the listener who sent in the winning name.
Roger was insightful. He once told me (on mike during an interview, with Shelia in the room), "Paul's a nice guy, talented, but without Shelia, The Gospel Greats would be just another radio program." (That was back in 1985. Nothing's changed.)
Roger was still in his late 30s when he was first diagnosed with his leukemia. Lesser mortals would get pretty down about such a diagnosis, and Roger surely had his moments. But overall, Roger refused to let it get him down. Although he was totally realistic about his circumstance, he was the poster child for optimism. He remained passionate about his work, seemingly (although not literally) indefatigable, despite his health issues. His overall outlook was always positive.
Roger's was an optimism – a hope – based on faith. And Roger never allowed his faith to be diminished by the trials he was going through. In fact, Roger's faith was strengthened by his difficulties, as he frequently noted in interviews and even in concerts when he was able to travel. Roger genuinely had full confidence that no matter what happened, it was up to the Lord. Echoing the Apostle Paul (see Philippians 1:21-24), Roger often said that no matter what happened — life or death — it would be alright.
Roger knew that the Lord was in control. He borrowed an expression, "In His Grip," and routinely used it as the closing for his correspondence. He even wrote a song by that title which Legacy Five recorded.
"He has heard my heart's request,
In His grip of grace I rest."
People often forget that Roger was quite a songwriter. Amazingly for someone in his circumstances (and yet typical for him), his songs were songs of hope, of encouragement and of Christian victory. Some seem autobiographical, such as this excerpt from "It's Good To Know:"
"I've had some good days, I have a few bad days,
But through it all the good outweighs the bad.
Undeserving of His favor, yet I have a blessed Savior
Who leads me through the trials of life
While holding to my hand."
Although Roger was Legacy Five's pianist, he occasionally sang, too. On their 2003 "London" CD he sang a song, "Home Free," that, although he didn't write it, was an eerie foreshadowing of what was to come:
"Home free eventually
At the ultimate healing we will be home free...
Sometimes the good die young, it's sad but true,
And while we pray for one more heartbeat, the real comfort is in You..."
In fact, Roger wrote a song called "Healing" that was on the very last album recorded by the Cathedrals.
"If you're in the valley of the shadow of death
You think that your time is at hand
Don't think for a moment He's forgotten your name
At the crossing of Jordan true healing begins..."
When Glen Payne died in 1999, the year the Cathedrals planned to retire, it naturally hit members of the Cathedrals very hard (as it did everyone who knew and loved Glen). But Roger told me then that the outcome of that was this: "We have been so blessed with God's grace and the assurance that Glen is not lost and that Glen is more alive today than he ever was here."
And that is our consolation regarding Roger. He's had his "true healing." He is now, in an even more literal sense than ever before, "in His grip."
— Paul
PS. Please remember Roger's wife, Debbie, and their children, Chelsea and Jordan, and the rest of the family in your prayers.
_____________________________
Visit www.smokymountainsanta.com
The place to stay in the Smokies: www.hiddenmountain.com
"Jesus Is The Reason For All Seasons"
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 8:53:01 AM
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Smokymtnsanta
Posts: 14360
Joined: 6/13/2006
From: The North
Status: online
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Received this from Donna Wolfe (Gerald's wife) in an Instant Message this morning:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey Tim...pray for us as we travel to Brentwood for the services for Roger Bennett today and tomorrow...keep us in your prayers...all of us Visions will be on our way after lunch..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My prayer goes out to all the families of Greater Vision and also to all the people traveling for the visitation tonight and for the funeral tomorrow. God, please give them all safe travels in Jesus' name. And be with Roger's family also.
_____________________________
Visit www.smokymountainsanta.com
The place to stay in the Smokies: www.hiddenmountain.com
"Jesus Is The Reason For All Seasons"
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 9:39:27 AM
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LissaJo
Posts: 323
Joined: 3/2/2006
Status: offline
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Roger will be missed by anyone who was a fan of Southern Gospel Music. My prayers go out to Debbie, Doug, and the "kids" (who aren't really kids anymore), as well as the Legacy Five family.
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 11:04:50 AM
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DeeAnnBailey
Posts: 2128
Joined: 3/23/2006
From: SC
Status: offline
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We will be leaving out shortly for the visitation and funeral as well. There will be many people on the road today and tomorrow headed that way.
_____________________________
D. Ann Bailey
He's planned a beautiful design, but it will take some fire and time, But it's gonna be okay, 'Cause the Potter knows the clay'.
<<<Tim Riley, Alicia & Erin
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 11:19:44 AM
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coreyw
Posts: 1
Joined: 1/20/2007
Status: offline
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I, am just shocked. I, in a way was ready for this to happen, but in a huge way was not ready for this. I love Southern Gospel, and I love the Cathedrals as well as Legacy Five. My prayers are with Debbie and the rest of the family, my prayers are also with Legacy Five, that they would go on and continue spreading the gospel the way they do, and just be able to do it stronger than ever. Even though I am saddened by this, I just continue to think about Heaven. I mean Roger, and all the others there right now. Anthony Burger, George Younce, J.D. Sumner,(and you wonder why the sound of thunder these days is so low, it must be George and J.D. together) as well as Glen Payne, they all can have a great Southern Gospel time and concerts everyday. I know that they probably are singing for us today the song that Glen does so great "We Shall See Jesus".
Thanks Roger for all the great memories you have left down here, and I know the angels are rejoicing now to have you home and "Home Free".
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 1:28:45 PM
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pathway
Posts: 15
Joined: 2/27/2006
Status: offline
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The last time I saw Roger was at the Songwriter's showcase at NQC last year. I will never forget what Roger told all of us. He said that he might not be around for the next NQC but he didn't want any of us to be sad for him. He said he would come back and haunt anyone that was sad because he would be going to a better place. Roger also told a funny story about Vestal Goodman. May God give Debbie and everyone the strengh to going through this diffcuilt time. I wish I was half the person that Roger Bennett was.
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 2:40:38 PM
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Dinana
Posts: 10128
Joined: 3/28/2006
From: Kennesaw, GA
Status: offline
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I haven't had much time today for the forums and I don't know if this has been posted anywhere. I found out from the church that Roger's funeral will not be broadcast on-line tomorrow.
_____________________________
< < My grandpuppy, Bella, with gk Zeus in the back
Dinana's Southern Gospel Concert Blog
www.myspace.com/dianaspages
www.youtube.com/DinanaSN
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 3:25:43 PM
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bdpoteat
Posts: 1
Joined: 3/20/2007
Status: offline
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My wife and I attended many Cathedral quartets throughout the eastern U.S. for many years. Our favorite combination with Glen and George was Roger, Scott and Ernie. Roger's piano playing always blessed me due to the feeling and non-mechanical technique he used. He was truly gifted and blessed. More importantly, Roger lived and stood for the right thing throughout his life and never wavered from God's unchanging hand. Last Friday night while attending a concert in Oak Ridge, TN, Scott Fowler said Roger was in critical condition in Houston. During the last hour of the concert, Scott, along with Gerald Wolfe, Mark Trammell, and others performed a tribute to the Cathedrals. I could visualize Roger at the piano on every one of them. Roger, you're in a better place, but someday we'll meet again. Our Prayers go out to your family.
Boyd and Debbie
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 6:33:59 PM
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hoppersfan
Posts: 1059
Joined: 6/27/2006
Status: offline
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You're right, Tina. I'm sure that there are many, many people who would like to be there for the service. Roger was greatly loved by many.
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 8:30:57 PM
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brenjnsn
Posts: 5
Joined: 3/22/2006
Status: offline
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I called Brentwood Baptist church today and I was told that they were not going stream Roger's service live but they will have videotapes available in their church library afterwards. If you go on-line to brentwoodbaptist.com, you can find the library number and order it. Not sure of the cost.
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 9:16:06 PM
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BassSingerSwain
Posts: 672
Joined: 12/12/2006
From: Bedford, VA
Status: offline
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guys, i just had a thought... do you think that the L5 "alumni" will come to the funeral? I'm pretty sure Tony will take time off from recording on OTGHQ's new CD to come, but I'm not really sure about Josh Cobb...
_____________________________
Aaron Swain
<--- Me
Blog: http://swainsmusings.blogspot.com
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 9:37:11 PM
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L5Ropeholder
Posts: 470
Joined: 5/15/2006
Status: offline
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I just checked out the church library page and there is nothing listed yet. I am so glad they are taping it!
_____________________________
If the greatest commandment is to love God with all of your heart, then the greatest sin is not to do it.
-Dr. Adrian Rogers
L5 Concert Photos
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RE: Roger Bennett Passes Away - 3/20/2007 11:09:22 PM
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AdamEdwards
Posts: 1060
Joined: 3/29/2006
From: Burnsville, NC
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: BassSingerSwain
guys, i just had a thought... do you think that the L5 "alumni" will come to the funeral? I'm pretty sure Tony will take time off from recording on OTGHQ's new CD to come, but I'm not really sure about Josh Cobb...
I really doubt that he'll be there.....
_____________________________
Let's agree to respect each other's views,
no matter how wrong yours might be.
www.SouthernGospelCritique.com
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