William David Bennett

William David Bennett, 62, of Yulee, FL passed away Friday evening, October 12, 2018

Mr. Bennett was born October 24, 1955 in Mt. Pleasant, PA.  He grew up in Lakeland, FL and moved to Jacksonville, FL after living in Tampa for 30 years.  He moved to Yulee in 2017, where he lived until the time of his unexpected passing.

On December 14, 1988 he met Carmelle McCann, their first date three days later on Dec. 17th for a Christmas party and were together ever since beginning their Love Story and marring on December 29, 2000. They shared 30 years together, 6 children lost to miscarriage, 9 Bichon Frise, countless stray cats and unmeasurable wild animals sharing their Love, Laughter, Hugs, Communication without words….each other’s Best Friend, Soul Mate, each other’s half.

He earned his Bachelor's Degrees from the University of South Florida and Polk Community College in Business and Architecture.  He was known by many for his expertise in banking, finance, and International day trading helping anyone who asked for his expertise and accomplished what others could not.  He started out in the banking industry until the day Chemical Bank laid him off due to restructuring. Bill wasted no time and started his own S Corporation the next day, Commercial Capital Funding Corporation and ran it successfully as President/ CEO for 28 years, growing it by word of mouth and took pride in being able to take care of his family.   

Bill had a brilliant mind, a charismatic personality, sense of humor, joyous laughter and the tenderest of souls.  Anyone who met Bill loved him. He took care of his family and friends with pride. He cherished his mother, who raised him by herself since Bill was 6 years old and Bill spent every day of her life making sure she and his wife had the best of everything. He had a superb memory for history, the Bible, and a fascination with space and the future; at all times well versed with current world news. Bill had an empathetic heart, a true conversationalist and left everyone he met happier. The running joke was that he had to learn Farmer’s/Art Market etiquette. He would carry on conversations for up to an hour with the booth owners. He loved going to Farmer’s Markets with his wife and always picked out the best, most sweet, watermelons; and pizza picnics on the beach with his wife and dogs. He loved people, he loved music, he loved the beach, the sun, the ocean, he loved life. Favorite poem, “Footprints in the Sand”; favorite song, “Ava Maria” and “Hallelujah”; him and his wife’s song, “Your Song” by Elton John.

Mr. Bennett loved all animals.  He rescued countless animals. He helped turtles (snapping, water and tortoise) cross roads; releasing of rehabilitated sea turtles; rescued a stray Chihuahua from the side of a busy highway at rush hour in the rain; carried bugs and spiders outside for his wife; rescued stray cats and kittens spending hours capturing kittens from inside car engines and pool pump equipment with the cat scratch scars to prove it; helped his wife trap/neuter and release stray cats and found loving homes for over 36 kittens. He and his wife shared their love of Bichon Frise, for 28 years. They fostered, rescued from puppy mills and owner turn ins and adopted nine Bichon Frise, with two of them paying it forward as Therapy dogs.

He was predeceased by his son, Adam Beach Bennett and his mother, Mary Thomas Bennett.

Survivors include his wife, M. Carmelle McCann-Bennett of Yulee, FL; his father and mother in law, Dennis and Marilyn McCann; brother-in-law Dean McCann and sister-in-law Julie Lawhon of Huntsville, AL.  

He is also survived by his two brothers and sisters-in-law, Michael and Cheryl Bennett who live in Tennessee, and James and Victoria Bennett of Lakeland, FL.

In honor of Bill’s life and the positive difference he made, please send donations in Bill's name to either Nassau County Animal Services,  
www.nassaucountyfl.com/915/donate and/or Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida, www.wildlifecoalition.com .