Matthew "Matt" Lewis Bentley

Matthew Lewis "Matt" Bentley, 49 of  Lincolnton, Georgia, passed away on August 2, 2024 at MCG Wellstar, Augusta.

Matt's memory is cherished by his children, Matthew Wood Bentley, Kayson Erin Bentley, and Addie Rose Bentley; his mother and stepfather, Dianne and Alton Danner of Lincolnton, and his sister, Mindy Bentley. Matt was preceded in death by his father, Lewis Matthews Bentley.

A man of the earth, Matt was renowned in the logging industry for his efficiency and talent as a logger/loader operator. He mostly recently worked for Barksdale Timber, however he spent many years working for Haynes Ashmore Logging and JM Burgess Logging. His dedication to his craft was evident in the way he consistently exceeded quotas, earning him recognition and bonuses for his outstanding performance.

Matt's passion for life extended far beyond his professional achievements. An avid outdoorsman, he found solace and joy in the embrace of nature, whether hunting deer and coyotes or marveling at the power of "big trucks". These adventures often included his children, to whom he imparted a deep appreciation for the wilderness. His son, in particular, shared Matt's enthusiasm for cars and trucks, a bond that brought them even closer. He could build or make anything he set his mind to. He was very talented in that regard.

Matt was always the life of the party. All his friends have memories of Matt always making them laugh, as there was never a dull moment when he was around. He had an infectious smile that could make anyone around him feel at home.

Matt was a member of Lincolnton United Methodist Church, where he served as Sunday School Superintendent for several years, as well as being part of "3 Men & a Pancake", a ministry the church had prior to Sunday School every 3rd Sunday. He loved that job and took pride in his contribution to the church ministry. However, it was the LUMC ministry, River of Life that he most loved. He was a huge advocate of this ministry and would often be seen wearing one of the t-shirt from ROL very often. Through ROL, he made many friends that he held in high regard.

In 2007, he attended a men's retreat at Camp Daniel Marshall, and it was there that he made the decision to follow the Lord and was saved. He was later baptized at LUMC following his decision to follow Jesus.

If so desired, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the LUMC-River of Life, c/o Chuck and Leigh Beggs.

A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at 11 a.m. at Lincolnton Methodist Church. The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. until the hour of the service in the church sanctuary.

Beggs Funeral Home, Lincolnton is honored to serve the family of Matthew Lewis Bentley.