Graveside services for Dr. Jordan will held on Saturday, February 26, at 11:00 AM, in Molena City Cemetery.
He was born in Zebulon, Georgia, the son of Benjamin Thomas Jordan, Sr. and Mary Grubbs Jordan.
He was born in Zebulon, Georgia, the son of Benjamin Thomas Jordan, Sr. and Mary Grubbs Jordan.
He was raised in Molena, Georgia amid lush farms and Georgia pines and spent a happy childhood fishing and exploring the land. He developed a love of learning at an early age and became a voracious reader of history, philosophy, psychology, science, and great novels. He received a B.A. in History from Mercer University, an M.Div. in Social Ethics from Yale University and a Ph.d. in Ethics and Society from Emory University. He was a lifelong learner and encouraged his children and students to read at least one book a week to broaden their scope and "become interesting people." He always had a book he was reading with a stack underneath to be read. His great influences were philosophers Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, Locke and theologians H. Richard Niebuhr and Reinhold Niebuhr. He often quoted Reinhold Niebuhr's serenity prayer and taught his family to pray it daily.
He began his career in higher education at Methodist colleges and universities beginning at Georgetown University in Georgetown, Texas where he created a social internship program for students to serve within their communities. He taught at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama and later became Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. After many years in education, he entered the business world with management training and development positions in entertainment, banking, engineering, technical services, and cable networks, including Opryland USA, Opryland Hotel, The Nashville Network, CNN, First American Bank, Comdata Corporation, and Applied Technical Services Corporation.
As an ordained minister in the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church, he began part-time pastoring in small churches in addition to his regular job. He served pastorates in Lobelville, Buffalo, Douglass Chapel, Martin's Chapel, Liberty Chapel, Brewer's Chapel, Mallory's Chapel, Ruth Ensor and Trinity United Methodist Churches. He was a compassionate and uniting minister, and parishioners returned his love in full measure. After retirement, he returned to his great love of teaching at Vanderbilt University School of Engineering where he taught engineering management, ethics and communication for the last 25 years. His students relished his teaching style of blending academic discipline with real world stories and his focus on the importance of living a meaningful life. Students kept in touch with him years after graduation to thank him for showing them not only how to succeed in business but how to succeed in life. He was intelligent, well-read, humble and non-judgmental. He believed everyone had something to offer the world, and he supported others with loyalty and steadfastness. He overcame every obstacle with fearlessness, grace and courage. Everyone he met was touched by his humanity and kindness, and no one ever left his presence without feeling greatly enriched and valued.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Ellen Janes Jordan; his children Benjamin Thomas Jordan III (Chris) and Lara Jordan Oakes (Tim); his grandchildren Ellen Saxon Oakes, Wilson Roger Oakes, Jackson Thomas Jordan, and Lindsey Kyle Jordan; his brother Henry Grubbs Jordan, Sr. (Linda) and sister Nan Jordan Vodde (Ted); his nephew Henry Grubbs Jordan, Jr. (Leah) and nieces Joyce Jordan Corley (Chris) and Elizabeth Vodde Sweeney and their children and many cousins.
Ben always knew and prioritized what was most important, putting first things first in every aspect of his life. He dearly and devotedly loved his family, friends, students and colleagues. He was our rock, our light and our greatest gift, and we will miss and love him forever.
Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston, GA, is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.
He began his career in higher education at Methodist colleges and universities beginning at Georgetown University in Georgetown, Texas where he created a social internship program for students to serve within their communities. He taught at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama and later became Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. After many years in education, he entered the business world with management training and development positions in entertainment, banking, engineering, technical services, and cable networks, including Opryland USA, Opryland Hotel, The Nashville Network, CNN, First American Bank, Comdata Corporation, and Applied Technical Services Corporation.
As an ordained minister in the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church, he began part-time pastoring in small churches in addition to his regular job. He served pastorates in Lobelville, Buffalo, Douglass Chapel, Martin's Chapel, Liberty Chapel, Brewer's Chapel, Mallory's Chapel, Ruth Ensor and Trinity United Methodist Churches. He was a compassionate and uniting minister, and parishioners returned his love in full measure. After retirement, he returned to his great love of teaching at Vanderbilt University School of Engineering where he taught engineering management, ethics and communication for the last 25 years. His students relished his teaching style of blending academic discipline with real world stories and his focus on the importance of living a meaningful life. Students kept in touch with him years after graduation to thank him for showing them not only how to succeed in business but how to succeed in life. He was intelligent, well-read, humble and non-judgmental. He believed everyone had something to offer the world, and he supported others with loyalty and steadfastness. He overcame every obstacle with fearlessness, grace and courage. Everyone he met was touched by his humanity and kindness, and no one ever left his presence without feeling greatly enriched and valued.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Ellen Janes Jordan; his children Benjamin Thomas Jordan III (Chris) and Lara Jordan Oakes (Tim); his grandchildren Ellen Saxon Oakes, Wilson Roger Oakes, Jackson Thomas Jordan, and Lindsey Kyle Jordan; his brother Henry Grubbs Jordan, Sr. (Linda) and sister Nan Jordan Vodde (Ted); his nephew Henry Grubbs Jordan, Jr. (Leah) and nieces Joyce Jordan Corley (Chris) and Elizabeth Vodde Sweeney and their children and many cousins.
Ben always knew and prioritized what was most important, putting first things first in every aspect of his life. He dearly and devotedly loved his family, friends, students and colleagues. He was our rock, our light and our greatest gift, and we will miss and love him forever.
Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston, GA, is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.
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