Longtime doctor, Dr Paul Bennett, dies at age 83
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on January 10, 2011 1:37 PM
By PHYLLIS MOORE
News-Argus Staff Writer
Dr. Paul Bennett Jr. of Goldsboro, a beloved "old-time family doctor," died Saturday. He was 83.
Bennett had moved to the area and opened up his family practice in 1959, establishing what is now Goldsboro Family Physicians on Wayne Memorial Drive in 1970.
Edie Mitchell was his nurse for 18 years, from 1974 until Bennett retired in 1992.
"He was a wonderful doctor. His patients loved him," she said. "He started out with total family practice and delivered babies -- he delivered my two children -- and stopped delivering babies in the '60s."
He was also a "good Christian doctor," Mrs. Mitchell recalled.
"He prayed with his patients, he cared," she said. "He would sit down with his patients and take all the time that was needed. ... (His passing) is a loss to the community. He was a good person, a good doctor."
Ed Borden shared a friendship with the physician that lasted more than 50 years.
"Paul was a busy man with a busy medical practice, but never too busy to visit or answer a call from a patient and never too busy for time with his family and his church and good times with friends," he said. "He always gave care, concern and advice to all of these."
Bennett was the Bordens' family doctor, neighbor and close friend to the entire family, which included son Lee Borden.
"He had a wonderful sense of humor," Lee said this morning. "No matter how busy he was, he always took time to stop what he was doing, share a good story. He worked hard in his professional life as well."
Kenneth Wiggins, pharmacist at Wayne Pharmacy, also had high praise for the doctor, calling him "one of the most dedicated physicians I know" as well as a dedicated Christian man.
"He loved people and he did his service regardless of their means," Wiggins said. "If they needed doctoring, he would doctor them. That's about all you can say about a gentleman of character. His life was very full, rich with a lot of friends."
Former editor of the News-Argus Eugene Price said Bennett was an exemplary doctor and person.
"He was our family physician until he retired and he also was a person with a great sense of humor, one of the few doctors that you enjoy going to see," he said.
A memorial service will be held at St. Paul United Methodist Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday.