OXFORD – Jeffery “Jeff” Edward Bender, 68, of Oxford, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016, at his home. A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday  at 4:30 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home in Oxford. He will be honored at the Corinth Military Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Coleman Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

Born in Hackensack, New Jersey, he graduated from Clearwater High School in 1967 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force serving in Vietnam in 1969. During his full 20 years in the Air Force, he served as a power lineman, basic military instructor and first sergeant at Keesler Air Force Base before retiring in 1989 at the rank of Master Sergeant. He settled in Oxford and took up JROTC instruction, as well as establishing an advertising/video business. He also was involved with the video production of his local church ministry and with the Christian Motorcycle Association, where he was elected president of the local CMA chapter before his diagnosis of brain cancer in January 2015. He enjoyed the outdoors, riding motorcycles and Southern gospel music. He loved his family and his Lord and enjoyed sharing his faith with others.

He is survived by his wife, Jean Bender of Oxford; daughter Melanie Ann Formal of Pembroke, Georgia; son Chad Edward Bender of San Benito, Texas; step daughter Kathy Hope of Pinckney, Michigan; step son Michael Hope of Houston, Texas; ex-wife Joanne Wilkes of Luverne, Alabama; sister Karen Gouge of Georgia; five grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

To view or sign an online guestbook, visit the tribute wall at www.colemanfuneralhome.com.