Services for Benjamin Dallas Dearman Jr. will be held today at 3 p.m. at Bethany Baptist Church, with the Revs. Jimmie Garrard and Marvin Cooper officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Robert Barham Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Dearman, 81, of Whynot, died Tuesday, April 26, 2011, at Anderson Regional Medical Center. Mr. Dearman began his career in the optical business at the early age of 15, when he ran errands for Joyce Optical in the Threefoot Building in Meridian. He eventually purchased McCormack’s Optical – which later became Dearman’s Optical – and worked until his retirement in 1995.

    Mr. Dearman served as president of the Mississippi Opticians Association and was a member of the board of directors for the Southeastern Opticians Association and the American Board of Opticianary. Mr. Dearman was a member of the National Academy of Opticians and the Opticians Association of America.

    Some of Mr. Dearman’s favorite activities were visiting nursing homes on Sunday afternoons; he also enjoyed farming. Mr. Dearman was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Whynot. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father and friend.

    Survivors include his wife, Gaythel Dearman of Whynot; his son, Rocky Dearman of Whynot; two daughters, Robin Butler and her husband, Kenneth, of Whynot and Rosalyn MacDonald and her husband, Col. Andrew MacDonald, of Tuscon, Ariz.; his grandchildren, Candace Dutton and her husband, Jason, John Dearman and his wife, Jennifer, Lindsey Dearman, Holly Butler, Ryan Butler, Austin MacDonald and Ethan MacDonald; his great-grandchildren, Christian Dutton, Mattie Rose Dutton and James Dallas Dearman; a brother, William Dearman of Loyalton, Calif.; his sister, Rosa Burns and her husband, Stanley, of Quincy, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Dallas and Ruth Dearman.

    The family requests that memorials be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the charity of choice.

    Pallbearers will be Ray Roberts, Jerry Butler, John Dearman, Ryan Butler, Austin MacDonald and Ethan MacDonald.

    Visitation will be held today, from 1:30 p.m.- 3 p.m., at the church.

    Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com