Mr. Billy Joe "Bill" Bentley, age 80, of Lyerly, GA, died Thursday, July 14, 2016, at the Oakview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Mr. Bentley was born February 11, 1936, in Jamestown, AL, son of the late John William and Etna Tucker Bentley.  He attended the Lyerly Baptist Church for more than 50 years, and prior to his retirement, he was employed with Riegel Textiles.  Mr. Bentley had also worked in retail sales with cloth, notions, and textile tufting, working throughout Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Otis Bentley, Clarence Bentley, and Bobby Bentley; and a sister, Fay B. Carr.

Mr. Bentley is survived by his wife, Gwendolyn Williams Bentley; a daughter, Heather Mistijo Bentley; grandchildren, Lee Lynn and Elizabeth "Beth" Lynn.  A host of nieces and nephews also survive.

Graveside and interment services for Mr. Bentley will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, July 16, 2016, from the Lyerly Cemetery with Rev. Abraham Baker and Rev. Andy Pilgrim officiating.  Active pallbearers will be Brandon Gurley, Ryan Graveley, David Tidmore, Jon Dennis, Jonathan Campbell, and Larry Weesner.  Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Crawford, Bill Ramsey, Monroe Glass, Hulett Brooks, Billy Locklear, Bobby Daniel, Stephen Dodd, Harold Ragland, Royce Chitwood, Wilburn Ragland, Frank Cranmore, Ernest Alexander, Jerry Bentley, Greg Bentley, Ronnie Carr, and the members of the Men's Bible Class of the Lyerly First Baptist Church.

Mr. Bentley will be in state at Mason Funeral Home and the family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:30 P.M. on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations be made to the Lyerly Baptist Church Building Fund (C/O Juanita Baker), or to the Lyerly Cemetery Fund.

Mason Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Billy Joe "Bill" Bentley who died on Thursday.