Mr. David Bennett, 57, of Monticello, died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009. He was born Aug. 6, 1952, in Dodge County to the late William Ross Bennett and his mother, Hazel Roland Bennett, who survives him. Mr. Bennett attended Middle Georgia College in Cochran and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Monticello. He was the executive director of the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission. Mr. Bennett began his career with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission in 1974 as a field representative and later as a regional representative where he worked to establish the Commission's first southeast Georgia regional office. Mr. Bennett led the Commission's Statesboro and Milledgeville Regional offices. He accepted the position of deputy executive director in 1999 and following the retirement of Director F. Graham Liles Jr. in 2003, Gov. Sonny Perdue named Mr. Bennett as the executive director of GSWCC in June 2003. Mr. Bennett retired from the Commission in December 2005 and became the first executive director for GACDS from January 2006 until 2007. He was a crucial part of the planning and execution of the 2006 NACD Legislative Tour in Georgia. This tour attracted congressional staff from around the U.S., and the benefits from this tour are still being reaped by Georgia Agriculture, especially during the recent Farm Bill negotiations. Mr. Bennett received numerous service awards from the State of Georgia, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and the Georgia Association of Conservation District Supervisors. Among them are: GACDS Leadership Award, GACDS Superior Professional Support to Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Goodyear Conservation Award, past member of the Governor's Agricultural Advisory Task Force, and in 2008 he was an inductee into the NACD Southeast Hall of Fame. Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife; mother; son; brother and sister-in-law; sisters and brother-in-law; nieces, nephews, other family and close friends. Funeral services for Mr. Bennett will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at First United Methodist Church of Monticello with the Rev. John Brown officiating. Interment will follow at the Old Concord Cemetery in Monticello. Friends may sign the online registry at: www.wheelerfuneralhome.com. Harwell-Wheeler Funeral Home, 2157 East St., Covington, GA 30014, is in charge of the arrangements. (770) 786-2524