Benjamin "Benny" Franklin Folger III

Benjamin Franklin "Benny" Folger III, age 78, passed away Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital. Benny was born May 28, 1948, in Forsyth County to Benjamin Franklin Folger, Jr. and Edith Neaves Folger.

Benny retired as the City Executive of First Union Bank in Elkin and later enjoyed working and socializing at the Fresh Market in the meat department. Benny was affectionately known as Benny the Banker and Benny the Butcher. Benny contributed a lot to the growth of Elkin during his time there in multiple civic and community organizations. He was a charter member or president of the Tri-County Sertoma, Elkin/Jonesville Chamber of Commerce, Elkin ABC Board and Downtown Elkin. He also contributed as a board member of the Elkin Rescue Squad, Elkin United Methodist Church, Tri-County United Way and the Foothills Arts Council. One of Benny's great joys was serving as Chair of the Elkin/Jonesville Christmas Parade for 25 years. He was a doting and loving husband to Becky for 39 years. He loved his kids more than words and shared his pride in his stories with everyone he met, for which he is widely known. This grew to include his sons-in-law over the years, which provided him with an additional outlet for comedic relief and banter. Those stories later evolved to focus on the twinkle in his eye and what made him change from Benny to 'Pappy', spending hours at baseball fields and dance competitions, but always with a story to share between innings and sets. Benny never met a stranger and made everyone feel like his best friend.

Survivors include: his wife, Rebecca "Becky" Folger of the home, two daughters, Jena Folger Wilmoth and husband Casey of Bermuda Run, Elizabeth Anne Richardson and husband Ryan of Kernersville, his grandchildren, Brooks Richardson and Lucy Anne Richardson, a son, Benjamin Franklin Folger IV and fiancé Melissa Joy Barabasz, and numerous cousins of the Folger and Neaves families.

A funeral service will be held Friday, September 4, 2026, at Elkin Funeral Service Chapel at 11:00 a.m. with Dr. David Hughes officiating. Burial will follow in Hollywood Cemetery in Elkin. The family will receive friends from 10-11:00 a.m. prior to the service.

Flowers will be appreciated or the family request that memorials be made to benefit the MIND (Minimally Invasive Neuro-Innovation and Discovery) Alliance Fund in Neurosurgery at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Philanthropy and Alumni Relations, P.O Box 571021, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, or www.giving.wakehealth.edu/givetoneuro (select MIND Alliance Fund under the 'Neurosurgery' section of the dropdown menu) or to the Second Harvest Food Bank at https://donate.secondharvestmetrolina.org/

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital, Dr. Stacey Wolfe and the Neurosurgery, Neurology, Heart and Vascular Care, and Nursing Care Teams for the exceptional and loving care given to Benny during his brief illness.