Milton “Wayne” Benton, 75, of Ash, NC passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Wayne was born on April 2, 1950, in Brunswick County, NC the son of the late Clyde Wilson Benton and Ida Gertrude Wilson Benton.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother LeRoy Benton.

Wayne graduated from Shallotte High School in 1968 and continued his education at Western Carolina University and graduated from UNC-Wilmington with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a minor in math.  He was building contractor in the residential construction industry and co-owner of Benton Enterprises, Inc. which included Clyde Benton & Sons Construction along with J.S.J. Carpet.  Wayne was a carpenter at heart who loved to build and create with his hands until health issues slowed him down.  He loved freshwater fishing with his son and spending time with his grandchildren.

He was a former member of the Shallotte Jaycees and currently on the Board of Directors for Brunswick County Farm Bureau.

Surviving is his loving wife Marsha, who on December 18^th would have celebrated their 49^th Wedding Anniversary; a son Brandon Wayne Benton (Morgan) of Calabash, NC; grandchildren Ava and Hudson Benton; brother Howard Benton (Lois) and sister-in-law Doris Benton all of Ash, NC; brothers-in-law Martin Bellamy (Margaret) of Myrtle Beach, SC and Milton Bellamy of Calabash, NC; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in the Brunswick Funeral Service Shallotte Chapel officiated by the Reverend Donnie Jones and the Reverend Landis Lancaster.  Burial will follow in the Manley Bennett Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 10:00AM-12:00 Noon at the funeral home prior to the funeral service.

Serving as pallbearers will be Martin Bellamy, Jason Benton, Jay Howard, Richard Jones, Ashley McLamb, Graham Moffitt, Matt Simmons, and Zachary White.  Honorary pallbearers will be Milton Coleman, Greg Hewett, and Elwood Howard.

In lieu of flowers donations maybe directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Shriners Hospital for Children, PO Box 1525, Ranson, WV 25438 or Lower Cape Fear LifeCare “Brunswick House”, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC  28401.