Benton Lavallais Jr.'s Obituary
Benton Lavallais Jr. was born on January 8, 1937, in Marksville, Louisiana, to Rev. Benton and Elestra Augustine Lavalais. He passed away in Arlington, Texas, on February 24, 2026.
While growing up, he was baptized and attended the Progressive Baptist Church, where his father was the pastor. He and three of his brothers formed a quartet called the Jubilees. They would follow their father, Pop, as they called him, to the many churches he would visit, and “The Jubilees” would sing before his sermon. Benton sang bass.
As a young child, he attended a two-room elementary school called Ford School. The walk was about three miles, going and coming. Although he went to school as much as he could, during the Fall months, along with the family, he picked cotton, and in the Spring, he hoed the fields of the newly planted cotton. When Ford School closed, he then attended Marksville Colored High School.
When Benton was young, he liked to draw and did some drawings in watercolor. He, also, was a very good mechanic and real handy around the house fixing things that broke. In his early twenties, when the family no longer sharedcropped, he did construction work and baled hay.
Being unable to find a suitable job around Marksville, he moved to Chicago, Illinois. There, he was employed at a steel mill until he retired. He met and married Marjorie Mae Toney. Together, they raised her niece, Asia Smith, whom he loved and treasured as his daughter. He and Marjorie lived together until she died.
Because of failing health, Benton moved to Texas in 2021, where he could be near family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie May Lavallais, his parents, Benton and Elestra Augustine Lavallais, and his brothers, Samuel, Herman, and Raymond Lavallais.
He leaves to mourn his beloved Asia, his brother, Clinton Lavalais, his sister, Susane Lavallais Boykins, his six grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Family and Friends may join us to Celebrate the Life of Benton Lavallais Jr
https://streamyard.com/watch/wUb9EWMeCBMS
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