Charles L. Bennett

Charles L. Bennett, 76, of Hopewell, Virginia, finished his race on June 21, 2026.

Charles was born to C.L. and Syble Bennett in Ahoskie, North Carolina, on April 14, 1950. His life mission can best be summed up in his pursuit of living a life devoted to Jesus, his Savior and Friend. Even as a young child, he felt God had a purpose for his life. This conviction led him to attend Zion Bible Institute in Haverhill, Massachusetts, to receive training and credentialing for ministry. While attending, he met a fellow student, Annette Beaty, whom he married in 1970. 

In 1974, Charles and Annette felt God leading them to Hopewell, VA, to start a church. Joy Fellowship Worship Center was founded in 1978. Early Sunday services began with humble beginnings in a local hotel conference room. Several years later, God provided property for the church, and it found its permanent home at 1001 Perrymont Road in Hopewell in 1988. 

Charles' friends and family describe him as a visionary, a man filled with charisma and boldness. He never shied away from doing things he felt God calling him to, no matter how grand a vision or how out of reach it may have seemed. His pursuit of God's calling on his life took him all over the world. By the end of his life, he had traveled to nearly sixty different countries, holding conferences and crusades in many of them. 

Seven years ago, Charles' mission and purpose transitioned as he turned the lead pastor role at Joy Fellowship Worship Center over to his son, Jon. He felt God calling Him to write a book about endtime prophecy and to take it to the world. As with any other time he felt God leading him, he jumped into this new mission wholeheartedly. His book was soon translated into six languages, including Spanish, Nepalese, and Hindi, among others. In the last two years of his life, despite the battle with his health, he was able to travel to Dubai and Nepal several times and hold a five-day crusade in Papua New Guinea, where nearly 9,000 people attended. 

While his crusades and conferences were well known for miracles and people's lives being changed, Charles was also known as an extremely generous person. Giving of his time, energy, and resources was something he modeled everywhere he went. He often invited strangers in a time of need to family holidays or Sunday gatherings after church. Charles was quick to set aside his own agenda in order to help a friend or family member. Always wanting to help others reach their full potential, this verse has been quoted to describe him: "A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench" (Isaiah 42:3a). Although this passage is talking about Jesus, Charles followed Jesus' example by always helping those who were weary and worn down around him to get back on their feet. 

Of all the missions and all the people whose lives were touched by Charles, his greatest delight was his family. He and Annette had nine children together, and if he had things his way, they would have all lived together in the same house forever. He loved having his family around him and enjoyed taking his children and many of his grandchildren with him on his mission trips. He had a way of encouraging his children in their strengths and did whatever he could to support each one of them in their endeavors and pursuits. He gave them permission to run hard after their dreams and, most of all, encouraged them to pursue Jesus in the process. 

Truly a general of the faith, Charles will be missed by so many. His legacy and impact for Jesus will continue to ripple throughout generations to come. 

Charles is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Annette Bennett; daughter, Miriam (Bill) Canada; daughter, Ruth (Pat) Slingo; son, Charles Jonathan (Beverly) Bennett; son, Steven (Justine) Bennett; daughter, Annette (Ed) McLaughlin; daughter, Joelle (Samuel) Jensen; son, Benjamin (Ellen) Bennett; and son, Joseph Bennett; grandchildren: Matthew Franzen, Jesse (Julie) Franzen, Joel (Megan) Franzen, Christina Franzen, Jonathan Franzen, Destiny (Dominic) Sierra, Spencer (Brianna) Canada, William Clarke (Kara) Canada, Clara (Michael) McCarthy, Faith (Kyle) Purdy, Luke (Sadira) Autrey, Victoria (Brett) Sipple, Hope Autrey, Rachel (Philip) Tysinger, Charles Bennett, Jr., Crystal Bennett, Timothy (Savannah) Bennett, Jack Bennett, Andrew Bennett, Kathleen Bennett, April Bennett, Jillian Bennett, Thomas Dawson Lesperance III, Hannah McLaughlin, Liam McLaughlin, Rian McLaughlin, Josiah Jensen, Elliot Jensen, Salem Jensen, Caris Jensen, and Isabella Bennett; great-grandchildren: Sienna Tysinger, Isaac Tysinger, Nora Tysinger, and Callum Franzen; and siblings: sister Carolyn (Don) Mowen, sister DiAnne (John) Davidson, sister Kay (Alan) Anthony, brother Kelly (Wanda) Bennett, and brother Michael (Debbie) Bennett; and many nieces and nephews. 

Charles is preceded in death by his parents, C.L. and Syble Bennett, and his son, Daniel Paul Bennett. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at Joy Fellowship Worship Center, 1001 Perrymont Road, Hopewell, VA. The visitation will be from 11:00am to 8:00pm on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at the church. The family is being served by the Hopewell Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested any contributions be given to missions.pastorcharles.com. 

Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com