Ben Gaston devoted his entire life to service to others.
That included service to his country and to his local community.
The Greenville native and Indianola resident passed away at his home on Wednesday. He was 74.
Back in August, Gaston was overwhelmingly re-elected to serve a second term as District 3 supervisor on the Sunflower County Board of Supervisors.
“We were real friends,” said District 1 Supervisor Glenn Donald. “Ben was fun to work with. You knew where he was coming from, and you didn’t have to be guessing.”
Board President Riley Rice began working with Gaston in 2019 when Gaston was sworn in for his first term.
“From the beginning, I have always respected Ben,” Rice said. “We worked together on many projects. We never did have a harsh word or anything between each other. We’re really going to miss him on the board, because he always had a good mind about how things should go… We had a good working relationship, and we’re going to miss him on the board. I do send all my condolences out to his family and friends, and I just want to let them know we are going to miss him on the board.”
Johnny McWilliams has served as the attorney for the county board for many years, and he has worked with many supervisors during that time.
“Different members of the board have different qualities. If I was to describe Ben, I would say that he was a calm and deliberate decision maker,” McWilliams said.
McWilliams said that Gaston was no stranger to the board of supervisors prior to him being elected. He appeared before the board multiple times, representing the various businesses and organizations that he worked for.
“Ben had been before the board on many occasions before he was a supervisor,” McWilliams said. “He was just a pleasure to me. He was always deliberate and calm, and I never saw Ben get upset, certainly never angry… I’m certainly going to miss him.”
Gaston is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart Sherry. They were married for nearly 53 years.
They were members of First Presbyterian Church in Indianola.
“In my mind, Ben was the consummate citizen,” FPC Pastor Duncan Hoopes said. “He dedicated himself to not just helping others but promoting a cohesive community. His leadership on the board and his untiring work, even when facing health struggles, set an example that the residents of Indianola and Sunflower County should both celebrate and emulate. First Presbyterian Church will miss him.”
Gaston’s life of service began over five decades ago when he volunteered for the draft and joined the Army in 1969.
“Back then, once you finished training that put you on a plane to Vietnam,” Gaston told The Enterprise-Tocsin earlier this month for our salute to Veterans special section.
He served for one year in an Infantryman Unit that ran the Central Highlands.
“We called it the Free Fire Zone because there were no friendlies up in there. We’d go out on platoon or squad size missions,” he said. “Our basic mission was search and destroy. We’d look for their supply depots and destroy them and of course, we had fire fights.”
When Gaston was discharged from active duty, he joined the Mississippi National Guard as a non-commissioned officer, according to his obituary.
“Gaston served in various command positions in his career with the Mississippi National Guard as the Company Commander for B Company 2/198th Armor - Indianola, Battalion Commander 1/198 Armor - Amory, 155 Armored Brigade - Tupelo, 66th Troop Command – Jackson and Assistant Adjutant General - Mississippi Joint Force Headquarters – Jackson,” his obituary said. “Gaston retired as a Brigadier General in January 2008 and was recalled one month later to function as the Assistant Adjutant General as a Major General which ultimately culminated his 42-year military career. MG Gaston received numerous awards and decorations, including the Soldier's Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Legion of Merit.”
Gaston continued his education and would eventually graduate with a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in chemistry.
He began his career outside of the military with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Stoneville. He would eventually work for Douglas & Lomason in Cleveland and later at Lewis Grocer Company/Supervalu as the general manager.
He followed that by working as deputy director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and others.
As supervisor, Gaston would become known for being both thoughtful and firm.
Having served as a sergeant and a general in the military, Gaston’s style more resembled that of a general. He was strategic, and when he made up his mind on an issue, he generally stuck to his guns.
“He brought clarity to our board, and I appreciate that,” Supervisor Donald said. “Ben Gaston was a researcher. When we discussed an issue, he would go back and research it, and he would send back information to people.”
Visitation for Gaston will be held this coming Monday, from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Indianola.
The funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. with Rev. Duncan Hoopes and Rev. Carl Brannan officiating.
Burial will follow in Indianola City Cemetery. Burton Funeral Home of Indianola has been entrusted with arrangements.
