Benjamins to Lead the Fourth of July Parade
Thursday, June 22, 2017
The Fourth of July committee is proud to announce the grand marshals for the 31st annual celebration are Eric and Michelle Benjamin, Sewanee residents for more than 36 years.
Eric and Michelle (Mitchell) have lived most of their married life in Sewanee. Eric grew up the oldest of three children and Michelle grew up the second oldest of 10 children in North Carolina. After graduating from Marist School in Atlanta, Eric started his freshman year at the University of the South in 1969.
After graduating from law school, Eric and Michelle married in 1980. In 1981, they moved to Sewanee. Eric, an alumni of the University, accepted the offer to begin a Minority Student Affairs Program, with leadership provided by members of the faculty. There were two African American students on campus that year. Eric worked diligently to increase the number of African American and other multi-cultural students on the campus and his success is demonstrated by those students having a high retention rate at the college. In 1981, Michelle began employment as a staff attorney with Legal Services and in 1989 opened her private law office in Winchester, where she continues to practice. Michelle was founding member of the Franklin County Community Association and has served on the Board of the Tennessee Trial Lawyers, Tennessee Judicial Selection Committee and the Board of Professional Responsibility.
The Benjamins have three children, Vincent, Keenan, and Michael, who attended Sewanee Elementary School and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School. Along the way, they played soccer, t-ball, baseball, tennis and basketball. Team participation was a great way for the family to get to know and make life-long friends with members of the Sewanee community.
Vincent, his wife Heather, and their two daughters live in New Jersey. Keenan is living in Delhi, India and Michael lives in North Carolina.
The Benjamins appreciate the honor of serving as grand marshals of the Fourth of July parade.