Ben H. Chapman

Ben H. Chapman, known affectionately by many as “Bro. Ben”, passed away after a 6-month battle with cancer at the age of 89 on Sunday, August 24, 2025, in his home surrounded by his family in Smithville, TN.  While his loss is felt by all who knew and loved him this side of heaven, his life and legacy will be forever remembered and cherished by the thousands of lives he impacted through the ministries he built and led at Lighthouse Christian Camp.

Ben Chapman was born in Central, South Carolina, on May 21, 1936, in South Carolina to Troy and Annie Laurie Chapman, growing up with one older brother, Jack, and two younger sisters, Troyce Anne and Linda. As a young man, he was a hunting, fishing, and sports enthusiast.  He especially loved training horses, racing boats and stockman cars, and traveling.

     After graduating high school, he spent two years at Clemson University before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.  He served from 1957-1960, where he spent most of his tour in the Philippine Islands as a pilot.  While there, he became an expert scuba diver, and after being honorably discharged in 1960, owned and operated a commercial diving business in Florida before returning to Clemson to finish his degree in 1963.

     After college, Ben moved to Tennessee to serve as a Ranger at Cheatham Lake, Lake Cumberland in Kentucky, and Center Hill Lake in Tennessee.  During which time he met and married the love of his life, Ermeda C. Chapman in 1964.  He was promoted to Resource Manager in 1966 and worked in the Nashville District U. S. Army Corps of Engineers office.  Then he served as the Resource Manager at Center Hill Lake and then Dale Hollow Lake.

     In 1973, Ben’s life and direction forever changed when he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus Christ and felt called by God to enter the ministry.  He was ordained as a Southern Baptist Minister in April 1975.  He served as Associate Pastor of Indian Creek Baptist Church in Smithville, Tennessee; Interim Pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Livingston, Tennessee, and then was called as the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Celina, Tennessee, in January 1979.

In 1980, Ben and Ermeda Chapman felt called by God to convert land they owned on Center Hill Lake into a nonprofit ministry dedicated to providing free camps for kids.  Ben resigned from serving as Pastor of FBC in Celina and as the Resource Manager at Dale Hollow Lake to serve full-time as the Director of Lighthouse Christian Camp in 1982.  With Ermeda by his side, and his children too – Justin, Sloan, and Jeannie – Ben built Lighthouse from the ground up.  From an initial summer camp with a few rustic cabins to now a 200+ acre year-round campus, thousands of children from 14+ counties in Middle Tennessee have come to enjoy summer camps, after school clubs, weekend retreats, and Christmas parties – all free of charge – to experience the beauty of God’s creation and hear about his unconditional and abounding love for them. Ben also built the Sing for Joy Widows' Home Ministry and the Lighthouse Boys' and Girls' Ranch on the property, which provides loving homes for foster children.

Over the years, Ben received a number of commendations and honors for his life of sacrifice and service to others.  Some of those include the Federal Employee of the Year by the Corps of Engineers for Middle TN, the Legacy Award by the Leadership DeKalb Alumni Association, the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service by the Corps of Engineers, a top 20 finalist for the Congressional Award for Exemplary Service to the Public, and more.  But as he always loved to say, “All Glory to God.”

He is proceeded in death by parents, Troy and Annie Laurie Chapman; and Son, Justin Chapman. 

Ben is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ermeda Chapman of Smithville; two children, Sloan (Ashleigh) Chapman of Alexandria and Jeannie (Jonathan) Shrum of Cookeville; three grandchildren, Hunter (Stephanie) Shrum, Austin Shrum and Brooke (Dylan) Yokum; four great-grandchildren, Skyler, Athena, Orion and Mason; two sisters, Troyce Ann Ashley and Linda (Mitchell) Brooks both of South Carolina; one brother, Jack (Deverle) Chapman of Georgia; several nieces and nephews and a host of loving friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Lighthouse Christian Camp, in memory of Bro. Ben.  Those can be made by calling or going to the funeral home.

Funeral Services honoring the life of Bro. Ben Chapman will be 2 PM Saturday, August 30, 2025, with Bros. Gene Mims and Jimmy Arms officiating and burial will follow in the Chapman Family Cemetery.  The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday, August 30, 2025, 10 AM until the time of the service at 2 PM at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. 

The Chapman family would like to express their appreciation to Gentiva Hospice and Dr. Pamela Sanders for the love and care shown to Ben during his sickness.

DeKalb Funeral Chapel is honored to care for the Chapman Family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ben H. Chapman, please visit our floral store.