Benjamin Dallas Dearman, Jr. Services for Benjamin Dallas Dearman, Jr. will be held Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3:00 at Bethany Baptist Church, with Reverends Jimmie Garrard and Marvin Cooper officiating. Burial will be in Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery. Mr. Dearman 81, of Whynot died Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Mr. Dearman began his career in the optical business at the early age of fifteen when he ran errands for Joyce Optical in the Threefoot Building in Meridian. He eventually purchased McCormack's Optical, which later became Dearman's Optical, and worked until his retirement in 1995. Mr. Dearman served as President of the Mississippi Opticians Association and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Opticians Association and the American Board of Opticianry. He was a member of the National Academy of Opticians and the Opticians Association of America. Some of Mr. Dearman's favorite activities were visiting the nursing homes on Sunday afternoon and he also enjoyed farming. He was a member of Bethany Baptist Church at Whynot . Survivors include his wife Gaythel Dearman of Whynot; son, Rocky Dearman of Whynot; daughters, Robin Butler and her husband Kenneth of Whynot, Rosalyn MacDonald and her husband Col. Andrew MacDonald of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren, Candace Dutton and her husband Jason, John Dearman and his wife Jennifer, Lindsay Dearman, Holly Butler, Ryan Butler, Austin MacDonald and Ethan MacDonald; great-grandchildren, Christian Dutton, Mattie Rose Dutton and James Dallas Dearman; brother, William Dearman of Loyalton, CA; sister, Rose Burns and her husband Stanley of Quincy, FL; numerous nieces and nephews. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and friend He was preceded in death by his parents, Dallas and Ruth Dearman. The family requests memorials be made to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital or the charity of choice. Pallbearers will be Ray Roberts, Jerry Butler, John Dearman, Ryan Butler, Austin MacDonald and Ethan MacDonald. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com. Visitation will be held Sunday, from 1:30- 3:00 at Bethany Baptist Church.
