Benny Gay Christian

Benny Gay Christian (March 17, 1925 August 9, 1982)[1] was from 1964 to 1974 a Democratic member of the Louisiana House of Representatives for Richland Parish in the northeastern portion of his state. A resident of Rayville, he also represented Caldwell and Madison parishes during portions of his tenure. In his last two years, he served alongside fellow Democrat Lantz Womack, a banker from Winnsboro in Franklin Parish, Louisiana.[2]

Benny Gay Christian
Louisiana State Representative for
Richland, Caldwell, and Madison parishes
In office
1964–1974
Preceded byLasley J. Downes
Succeeded byFrancis C. Thompson
Personal details
Born(1925-03-17)March 17, 1925
DiedAugust 9, 1982(1982-08-09) (aged 57)
Resting placeMasonic Cemetery in Rayville, Louisiana
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jean Eddins Christian
ChildrenRaymond G. Christian

Carol Jean Christian Sorey

Two grandsons
ResidenceRayville, Louisiana

Christian served during both administrations of Governor John McKeithen and the first two years of the first term of Edwin Washington Edwards. Christian resigned from the House midway in his third term. He was succeeded by fellow Democrat Francis C. Thompson[2] of Delhi, who remained in the House until 2008, when he was sworn into office in his first term in the Louisiana State Senate. Thompson began serving his third and final term in the state Senate on January 11, 2016.[3]

Christian was married to the former Jean Eddins (December 16, 1925 December 15, 2013), who attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, and the University of Louisiana at Monroe, then Northeast Louisiana University, from which she received a master's degree. She taught for eighteen years at Holly Ridge High School in the Holly Ridge community in Richland Parish. She then became a supervisor of Business and Office Education in the capital city of Baton Rouge and traveled for a decade as part of her job duties. She worked under four superintendents, Bill Dodd, Louis J. Michot, J. Kelly Nix, and Thomas Clausen. After retiring from the state Department of Education, she taught at Spencer and Gonzales business colleges until she was seventy-two. She died in Monroe in 2013, a day before her 88th birthday.[4]

Christian and his wife had two children, Raymond G. Christian of Baton Rouge and Carol Jean Christian Sorey and husband, Danny, of Monroe.[4] The Christians are interred at the Masonic Cemetery in Rayville.[1]

References

  1. "Benny G. Christian". findagrave.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  2. "Membership of the Louisiana House of Representatives, 1812-Current: Richland, Caldwell, and Madison parishes" (PDF). house.louisiana.gov. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  3. "See who has already won election". The Monroe News-Star. September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  4. "Jean Eddins Christian". findagrave.com. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
Preceded by
Lasley J. Downes
Louisiana State Representative for
Richland, Caldwell, and Madison parishes

Benny Gay Christian
19641974

Succeeded by
Francis C. Thompson
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