Manchie "Benny" Fly

Manchie Benjamin (Benny) Fly departed this life on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at North Mississippi Medical Center, Inpatient Hospice in Tupelo, MS. He was born at home in Coffeeville, MS on July 30, 1950 to Fletcher Fly Sr. (Buddy) and Louise Bankston Fly. Benny attended Coffeeville School and was a member of Goshen Memorial Chapel Church.

In his early adult life Benny worked in the logging field. Later he would go to work for Colt Industries and on to work for Holly Carburetor as quality control inspector, which turned into Borg Warner. He moved to Arkansas and began working for Morrilton Plastics as general manager, where he managed three different auto plants making parts for Ford Motor Co., Chrysler, GMAC, and Chevrolet. 

In 1991 he returned to MS, buying a sawmill in Oakland, which he and his wife Debbie ran for 25 years, manufacturing grade lumber and frame stock. He also started doing wood floor molding and siding, interior and exterior. In 2015 he returned to his home place in Coffeeville, MS where he was born and raised. 

His love of the outdoors, whether it be hunting, fishing, or gardening, became his life. He loved being retired and being on his own time schedule. He took great pride in helping to rebuild Goshen Memorial Chapel along with his brother, cousins, and friends. He cherished all the events held within the church in the pavilion, such as family reunions, weddings, or annual homecoming. 

The celebration of Manchie's life will commence with a Visitation in the Gardiner Room at Seven Oaks Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 18, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, where memories and stories of his impactful life will be shared.

The Funeral Service, a final tribute to Benny's remarkable journey, will take place on Thursday, September 19, 2024, at 2:00 pm in the Henry Chapel at Seven Oaks Funeral Home. It will be a time to honor his achievements as a self-employed individual in the wood products industry and to reflect on the joy and laughter he brought into the lives of those around him.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Fletcher Fly Sr. (Buddy) and Louise Bankston Fly; two brothers, George Paul Fly and William Roy Fly.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Debbie Steward Fly; one brother, Fletcher Fly Jr.; Children, Kathi Raney (Keith), Kim Brown (Ededie), Lacye Byars (Jason) all of Grenada, MS, Daniel Stovall (Courtney), Scott Stovall (Sonya Andrews) both of Morton, AR; and Hope Stovall of Water Valley, MS; Grandchildren, Dee Berryhill (April Rogers), Toni Mims, Noami Prescott, T.J. Berryhill, Kathleen Brown, Jonathan Brown, William Brown, Jagger Stovall (Makyla Benge), Nicholas Stovall, Kendall Stovall (Gunner Smith), Lily Byars, Addison Ferguson, and Bowen Byars; Great grandchildren, Corbin Mims, Mattie Mims, Vivienne Prescott, Mary Kate Prescott, Lyric Galvin, Brianna Berryhill, and Beckam Smith.