Bennie C. "Shorty" Waters

Bennie C. “Shorty” Waters, age 91, a longtime resident of Troy, Alabama, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2020, surrounded by loved ones. A graveside service will be Friday, July 3, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Cemetery with Reverend Chad Teal officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be Reed Waters, Jesse Holloway, Ben Purvis, Brock Johnson, Jefferey Douglas, Gary Headley, Mitch Purvis, Joe Parks, and Herman Jordan. Honorary pallbearers will be Lamar Battle and James Ed Hester. A visitation will be held from 10 – 10:30 a.m. at Green Hills Funeral Home.

Mr. Waters, affectionately known as “Shorty” or “PawPaw”, is remembered as the best man in the whole world. He was passionate about all his endeavors and it shone through in the quality of work, life, and fun he shared with his family, friends, and community. First, Mr. Waters worked as a trusty service technician for Sears-Roebuck Company for 20 years; second, he worked in his garden which produced equal parts of beautiful and delicious bounty; and third, he indulged in his love for cars and trucks with the opportunity to contract for Bill Jackson Chevrolet as a transporter of top-notch automobiles. For even more fun, he found delight in feeding any wildlife that found their way to him hungry and any watering hole that might produce a mess of bream or catfish. His heart poured goodness and love for those dear to him, most evident in his happiness to appease Mrs. Ellie Ruth as “the boss”, and he always could offer a glass of optimism on a gloomy day.

Mr. Waters is survived by his wife of 67 years, Ellie Ruth Hatfield Waters; children, Judith Waters Holloway of Elba, AL, Joyce Waters Purvis (Mitchell) of Elba, AL, and David Frank Waters (Sue) of Montgomery, AL; grandchildren, Katie Elizabeth Johnson (Brock) of Elba, AL, Carey Lauren Douglas (Jeffery) of Enterprise, AL, Jesse Robert Holloway of Elba, AL, Sara Elizabeth Purvis of Enterprise, AL, Benjamin Mitchell Purvis (Hope) of Hartford, AL, and Samuel Reed Waters of Montgomery, AL; great-grandchildren, Banks and Sailor Johnson, Lennon Douglas, and Cade Purvis; sister, Joann Parks of Banks, AL; and brother, Julian Waters of Banks, AL. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe Frank and Flora Elizabeth Pope Waters; and infant brother, Billy Waters.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to Mrs. Patricia, Mrs. Vanessa, and the staff of Compassus Hospice for their tremendous showing of support and care. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in his honor to God’s Way Baptist Church (1100 Elba Hwy. Troy, AL 36079) or to a charity of choice. Friends and family can sign the guestbook online at www.greenhillsfuneralhome.net. The staff of Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Waters family.