Capt. William Benson Sr., Oxford ferryman, is dead
William Lindale Benson Sr., Oxford's "ambassador of goodwill" and its ferry boat captain for more than 50 years, died Sunday of a blood infection at the Memorial Hospital in Easton. He was 83.
Known as "Captain Bill," Mr. Benson used his Oxford-Bellevue Ferry to touch more than just the Talbot County shores as he ferried more than 40,000 people across the Tred Avon River from sunup to sunset each year.
Throughout his 36 years as owner, Captain Benson became a familiar sight to the people who used the ferry and was always on hand for a friendly conversation across the wheel for the three-quarter-mile ride across the river.
"Maybe I talk too much," Captain Benson said in a 1981 interview with The Sun, "but people come back to talk some more."
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Oxford United Methodist Church in Oxford.
Born in the Ferry Neck area of Royal Oak, Captain Benson was educated in Talbot County public schools. He graduated from the Royal Oak School in the early 1920s after completing eight grades. He attended the Pierce Business School in Philadelphia for a year before returning to work on his parents' farm on the Eastern Shore.
Captain Benson got his introduction to the sea by working on the decks and in the engine rooms of various pleasure yachts operating off the New England coast and Long Island Sound.
On Christmas Day of 1936, he married the former Sara Valliant Newnam of Bellevue and settled on a farm in Deep Neck Point. Not long afterward, they decided farming did not suit either of them.
The Bensons moved to Oxford in 1938 where Captain Benson became owner and operator of the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry, the oldest ferry in continuous operation in the country. Although he officially retired on June 30, 1974, he continued to help on the trips across the river.
Mr. Benson was active in town and county affairs. He served as a town commissioner from 1952 to 1955, and was past president of the Talbot County Firemen's Association.
After his retirement, he served on the Oxford Board of Zoning Appeals and on the Talbot County Tax Assessment Appeals Board.
Mr. Benson was also a member of the Talbot County Historical Society, the Oxford Museum and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. He belonged to Coats Lodge 102, A.F. and A.M. and Centreville Chapter 69 of the Order of the Eastern Star.
A longtime member of Oxford United Methodist Church, Mr. Benson was on the building committee when the current church and parsonage were constructed. He was a member of the church's bible class, and treasurer of the Methodist Men.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, William L. Benson Jr. of Easton; and two half-brothers, Norman J. Stewart of Long Boat Key, Fla., and Raymond P. Stewart of Royal Oak.
Donations may be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church or the Oxford Volunteer Fire Company, Oxford 21654. Services for James D. "Buford" Hill, a retired Baltimore police officer, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Hurst-Scott Funeral Chapel in Richlands, Va.
Mr. Hill, who was 53, died of a heart attack Saturday at his home in the 4400 block of Washington Street.
The Russell County, Va., native was educated in Virginia public schools and graduated from Richlands High School in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from the University of Baltimore in 1978.
Mr. Hill enlisted in the Army in 1957 and served during the Vietnam War. He was named an Army Vietnam Presidential Honor Guard Veteran during his tour of duty.
Mr. Hill moved to Maryland in 1960 and married the former Maureen M. Bragg on Christmas Eve -- 31 years ago today. He became a Baltimore policeman and was assigned to the Central District.
He is also survived by two daughters, Karen Lynette Hill of Baltimore and Sharon Annette Adams of Sykesville; two brothers, Hurley Hill of Canton, Ohio, and Hubert Hill of Raven, Va.; three sisters, Estey Street of Rowe, Va., and Faye Hubbard and Emily Childress, both of Raven; and a grandson.
Nancy L. Currie
Insurance saleswoman
Services for Nancy L. Currie, an insurance professional in Baltimore for 14 years, will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Oakland Memorial Home at 330 Ramapo Valley Road, Oakland, N.J.
Mrs. Currie, who was 45 and lived in her former hometown of Oakland for the last few months, died at her home Saturday of cancer.
A former employee of both Geico Insurance and Transamerica Insurance Finance, Mrs. Currie moved to Baltimore from Oakland in 1977. She served as an underwriter, worked in the claims and finance departments, and was a member of the Insurance Women of Baltimore.
The former Nancy Swiers returned to New Jersey to live after being diagnosed as having cancer last summer.
She is survived by her mother, Helen Swiers, and a daughter, Jacqueline Pagerie, both of Oakland; and five brothers, Albert Swiers Jr. of Starlicca, Pa., Arthur Swiers of Georgia, Jerry Swiers of Glen Rock, N.J., and Charles Swiers and Harold Swiers, both of Oakland.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
James B. Bordley
Restaurateur
Memorial services for James Brown Bordley, a restaurant owner, will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Willow Street, St. Michaels.
Mr. Bordley, who was 39, died Wednesday of a respiratory illness in Caroline County.
A former Howard County resident, Mr. Bordley moved with his parents to Queen Anne's County, where he was educated in the public school system.
He graduated from Queen Anne's High School in 1970 and attended Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, W. Va., for a year before buying the Centreville Tea Room. Mr. Bordley owned and operated the tea room for five years.
In 1976, he moved to Easton, where he worked in and operated many small tea rooms and restaurants.
He moved to Preston in 1984 and opened Jimmy's Restaurant in Easton, which he operated until 1990.
He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, St. Michaels, the Queen Anne's County AIDS Task Force, and a volunteer with both the Caroline Hospice Foundation and the Talbot Hospice Foundation.
Mr. Bordley is survived by his parents, Madison Brown Bordley Jr. and Lydia Anne Mooney Bordley of Church Hill; and a sister, Nancy Bordley Lane of Centrevillle.
Memorial donations may be made to the Caroline Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 10, Denton, Md., 21629 and Christ Episcopal Church, P.O. Box S, St. Michaels, Md., 21663.
Frances J. Greene
Saleswoman at Sears
Funeral services for Frances J. Greene, a longtime employee of Sears Roebuck and Co. in Baltimore, were held Nov. 24 in Marlinton, W. Va.
Mrs. Greene died Nov. 21 at the Pocahontas Memorial Hospital in Marlinton after suffering a heart attack. She was 71.
The former Frances Jane Wilfong was born and attended school in Marlinton but moved to Baltimore in the early 1940s. Here, she met and married Thomas J. Greene. The marriage ended six years later.
Mrs. Greene worked for the Bendix Corporation and then as a proofreader at The Baltimore Sun before joining Sears as a salesperson at its North Avenue store.
Eventually, she became the division head of the cosmetics department.
In 1981, she transferred to Sears' White Marsh store as a salesperson in the drapery department.
After 39 years with Sears, Mrs. Greene retired in 1983 and moved back to the family farm in Marlinton.
In retirement, she turned her attention to farming, growing and selling potatoes and strawberries.
Mrs. Greene was also active in the Central Union Methodist Church, where funeral services were held for her, the Homemakers Club, and the American Association of Retired Persons.
She is survived by a daughter, Mary Catherine Stokes of Baltimore; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.