William Jess Benjamin – William, 74, died October 25, 2022 at home in Tallahassee, FL, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.   Born May 29, 1948 in Kansas City, KS to George Stillman Benjamin and Marjorie Stockman Benjamin, he was the 5^th of their 7 beloved children.  After losing his sight to hereditary Retinitis Pigmentosa at a young age, his family moved to CA in order for him to receive a better education relative to his vision.  He went on to study at the Emile Fries Piano Hospital and Training Center in Vancouver, WA where he became a piano tuner as well as a teacher of piano tuning at the school.  He attended many conventions for the blind all over the country.  It was at the American Council of the Blind Convention in Orlando, FL that he met Sally Ann McEwan, whom he wed July 12, 2002 and relocated to Tallahassee later that year.  He owned and operated several sales, repair and tuning stores of pianos through the years.  His most recent being Piano Boutique in Tallahassee.  A few of the professional groups William tuned for were Journey, The Eagles, Tammy Wynette, Crystal Gayle, The Pointer Sisters and Merle Haggard.  William would call people with vision, “sightlings”. He performed many “sightling” jobs including digging up, leveling and relaying the brick patio, assisted in taking care of the pool, raked and burned leaves and limbs, building a tree house complete with stairs, railing and dumb waiter.  William was a member of Tallahassee Heights United Methodist Church,  the Piano Technicians Guild and past president of the Lions Club of Tallahassee and American Council of the Blind Alliance.  He and Sally became residents at Cherry Laurel Retirement Community in February 2019.  He always had a joke and a story; a favorite was why God invented perfume, so even a blind man could enjoy a pretty lady.  Travel was a big part of William’s life – the conventions for the blind, cruises, camping and then RV trips with family.   Many thanks go to the many friends and family that have supported he and Sally during his illness.  William is survived by his wife Sally Ann McEwan Benjamin, two brothers -  Leo George Benjamin (Betty Jo), Harrodsburg, KY, Kenneth “Ken” Jay Benjamin (Rose), Stockton, CA, a sister Violet Bernice Prendergast (John), Pueblo, CO, sisters-in-law Sylvia Gregory Kelley, Shirley McEwan Moore (DeVoe), all of Tallahassee, and many extended family.  He is pre-deceased by his parents, his daughter, Angela “Angel” Benjamin, two brothers, Joseph “Joe” S Benjamin, Walter Benjamin, a sister Shirley Benjamin, his parents-in-law Wilbur J and Louie Dell Copeland McEwan and sister-in-law Sharon McEwan Palmer. 

Visitation will be Monday, October 31, 2022 at 10:30am followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00am at THUMC, 3004 Mahan Drive, Tallahassee, FL.  Interment will be at 1:00pm in Oakland Cemetery, N Bronough St, Tallahassee, FL.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to FL Council of the Blind, Lions Club of Tallahassee, THUMC or a charity of your choice.

  Beggs Funeral Homes.