Andrew B. Benedict Jr., a prominent Nashville banker and longtime member of the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust, died Monday morning at home. He was 94.
The funeral is set for 10 a.m. Thursday at Christ United Methodist Church in Franklin, Tenn. The family will receive visitors from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Roesch-Patton Funeral Services.
Benedict, a 1935 graduate of Vanderbilt and a 1944 graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking at Rutgers University, began his career as a mail runner at American National Bank – now called Regions Bank – and worked his way up to chairman of the board in 1969, and senior chairman a decade later.
"Andrew Benedict was the very ideal of a Vanderbilt man," said Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos. "He succeeded with integrity in his scholarly career, in business and as a community leader. We will miss his guidance, as will the whole community."
A Nashville native, Benedict graduated from Wallace University School in 1931.
In addition to his Board of Trust duties, Benedict was a past president of the Vanderbilt Alumni Association and director of the Vanderbilt Development Foundation. He served as president of the Tennessee Bankers Association and the Association of Reserve City Bankers. He was a 33-degree Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner, was active in the United Methodist Church and many community activities including the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts and Big Brothers of Nashville.
"My father was a very unusual man in Nashville," said Andrew Bell Benedict III. "He committed a good deal of his life and the assets of his bank to growing Nashville into a great place to live, have a career and raise a family."
Benedict was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Benedict, in 1998. Survivors include sister Grace Benedict Paine, children Hennie Benedict Morris and Andrew Bell Benedict III, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Media contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu