SAVANNAH, GEORGIA - Benjamin Earl Gay, 84, of Savannah, Georgia, husband of Mildred “Millie” Lamm Gay, died Thursday, January 28, 2010, at his home.

Born in Wilson, North Carolina, he was preceded in death by his parents, John Franklin Gay, Jr. and Aline Baltzegar Gay. Mr. Gay was a deacon of Bull Street Baptist Church. He was a United States Army veteran having served in World War II. During his military service Mr. Gay was a Forward Observer with the 761st Field Artillery Battalion in the European Theater and with the Office of Strategic Services (now the CIA). For his service he was awarded two Battle Stars. Mr. Gay was a 1949 civil engineer graduate of N. C. State.

Mr. Gay moved to Savannah in 1951 to work with Union Camp Corp. He was later employed with a local engineering firm until 1958 when he co-founded the firm now known as Hussey, Gay, Bell & DeYoung, listed in the Engineering News Record’s Top 500 US Design Firms. Mr. Gay continued working with HGBD up until six months ago. He was a registered engineer in GA and NC and a registered surveyor in GA. Mr. Gay later formed and served as CEO of Coastal Telecom, Inc.

The Town of Thunderbolt proclaimed December 14, 2005 as “Benjamin Earl Gay Day” in the Town of Thunderbolt.

Mr. Gay served two terms as President of the Better Business Bureau of the Coastal Empire. In 2006 he was elected Chairman Emeritus of the BBB Southeast Atlantic, Inc. He was member and officer of several organizations, including the NC State Alumni Assoc, Savannah Jaycees, the business chapter of the John Birch Society and the Connecting Business Men to Christ (CBMC), the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Savannah Home Builders Association, GA Water Pollution Control and the GA Soil and Water Conservation Commission.

Surviving are his wife of 65 years, Mildred “Millie” Lamm Gay of Savannah, Georgia, and daughters, Carole Gay, Charlotte Hinely (Michael) and Dodie Gay.

The funeral service will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday in Bull Street Baptist Church.  Interment will be private.

The family will receive friends at the church after the service.

Remembrances: Hospice Savannah, Inc. or Bull Street Baptist Church.