Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our cause. This donation greatly helps my mission of saving the only home I know. Please share this donation link to all of your friends, family members, and social media accounts.&nbsp; If you would like to contribute further to our cause, contact us to become a volunteer, or spread the word about our fight, your can contact my son LaRay J. Benton directly at 864-357-4545 or <a fr-original-style="" href="mailto:larayjbenton@gmail.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">larayjbenton@gmail.com</a>&nbsp; Georgia W. Benton and the Benton Family

In 1984, Leroy Benton, Sr. (deceased) a Vietnam War veteran used his VA benefits to build a home for his family. That home still stands today.And now—it’s under attack. Mrs. Georgia W. Benton is the Benton Family's 76 years old Matriarch, and the lead historian and advocate for the <a href="https://youtu.be/AiTau7OKiLU?si=0PHnDT00VMnwrquh" target="_blank">Historic First Bryan Baptist Church</a> and the Yamacraw Village community.  She is:<ul><li>A widow of a U.S. Army veteran</li><li>Proud 1970 alum of Savannah State University</li><li>Proud 1967 alum of A.E. Beach High School</li><li>Retired SCCPSS Math Teacher from Savannah High School </li><li>A grandmother raising two school-age children in the home</li><li>A lifelong homeowner in Port Wentworth, GA</li><li>The ONLY person standing in defense of the City of Port Wentworth, GA; Chatham County, GA; and SPH 21, LLC and Dermody Operating Company from taking her land and water rights in order to build over <a href="https://dermody.com/region/southeast-region/property/port-wentworth-commerce-center/" target="_blank">10 MILLION SF of Industrial Warehouses and Data Centers</a>, which will destroy the last African-American community left in the city limits along Saussy Road and Berrien Road. </li></ul>This is the only home her family has known for nearly 40 years, and the Saussy Canal and the 200+ acres of wetlands attached is the primary contributor to her family's ONLY source of safe Drinking Water via their private water well on the property. How the City of Port Wentworth and Chatham County tried to Unlawfully Condemn her property During 2024, local news station WJCL News reported and document the egregious acts of the City and County Defendants to unlawfully condemn the home of Mrs. Benton by futilely claiming “Water Contamination” without cause, evidence, nor merit, with the sole purpose of taking her property by force:<ul><li><a href="https://www.wjcl.com/article/port-wentworth-water-well-legal-fight/61899270" target="_blank">Port Wentworth fined woman $500 a day for using private water well</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wjcl.com/article/port-wentworth-family-faces-legal-battle-with-city-for-using-private-water-well/61585417" target="_blank">Port Wentworth family faces legal battle with city for using private water well</a></li><li><a href="https://www.wjcl.com/article/new-details-in-port-wentworth-familys-legal-battle-against-the-city/61617384" target="_blank">New Details Port Wentworth family's legal battle against city</a></li></ul> How Georgia Power is Attempting to Take Her Property During 2025, Georgia Power and the Southern Company attempted to take Mrs. Benton's property and her 87 year old neighbor's (a Cancer Patient) property by force in order to install additional electric poles and fiber optics across her property to power and support a planned Data Center. The City of Port Wentworth Police has even harassed and unlawfully arrested her son LaRay J. Benton twice from her property for peacefully opposing development on his mother's property:<ul><li><a href="https://www.wjcl.com/article/port-wentworth-family-plans-to-sue-georgia-power-over-power-lines-on-their-property/66018567" target="_blank">Port Wentworth family plans to sue Georgia Power over power lines on their property</a></li><li><a href="https://youtu.be/vP57sYzGvhg?si=2N2dRSZz5bJrTyTF" target="_blank">Unlawful Arrest of Mrs. Benton's son</a></li></ul> What’s happening right now Mrs. Benton and her family are now  fighting back legally and are now involved in One (1) lawsuit before the Superior Court of Chatham County and TWO (2) active federal lawsuits in order to save their property:<ul><li>Benton v. Chatham County, et al., U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia, Case No. 4:26-cv-00093-RSB-CLR</li><li>Benton v. SPH 21, LLC, et al., U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Case No. 1:25-CV-1663-SEG</li><li>Benton v. City of Port Wentworth, et al., Superior Court of Chatham County, Case No. SPCV24-00740-ST</li></ul> On Friday, April 24, 2026, before the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Georgia, the Benton Family has filed a <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P3jBJ8fiJ6MmUs1PVIB1tn2zWfNNo06U/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank">Motion for Summary Judgment</a> against all of the City, Chatham County, and SPH 21, LLC defendants, and they have been given a limited time to respond.This is not speculation. This is active litigation. What is Mrs. Benton fighting The Benton family alleges:<ul><li>Their property was taken and damaged without proper due process</li><li>Family land, drinking water, and waterways connected to their home were willingly altered and polluted by the Defendants</li><li>Their rights as property owners were ignored</li><li>Fraudulent taking, embezzlement, and sale of public funds and real property in violation of OCGA 36-37-6</li></ul>According to court filings (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yzAtKNF5Hb6Diny4yV4CzXqUA5-5HgL_/view?usp=drive_link" target="_blank">Full Complaint HERE</a>):<ul><li>Construction and development activity entered their property</li><li>Wetlands and waterways tied to their land were impacted</li><li>No compensation has been provided</li><li>Legal fees continue to rise</li></ul> Video evidence (see for yourself) On March 1, 2026, direct footage was recorded showing activity tied to the case:<ul><li>Unlawful Tree removal and filling of Wetlands</li><li>Land disruption, trespassing, and abandonment of Saussy Road</li><li>Drinking Water Pollution</li><li>Waterway changes affecting Saussy Canal and Black Creek</li></ul>Watch the evidence: Video 1https://youtu.be/9NXjWX_wu4gVideo 2https://youtube.com/shorts/cEMu3KRd4GwVideo 3https://youtube.com/shorts/NRu3GgPBxE4Video 4https://youtube.com/shorts/Rvihfsk1bI0Video 5https://youtube.com/shorts/xUM9Mrk9mIsVideo 6https://youtube.com/shorts/-HPLZoMZFN0 What this really means This is not just a legal case.This is:<ul><li>A Vietnam Veteran’s legacy</li><li>A grandmother’s home</li><li>Three children’s stability</li><li>The survival of the last remaining historically African American community left in the City of Port Wentworth</li></ul>The family is fighting entities with far greater resources. And they are doing it alone. Why we are raising funds Legal defense at this level is expensive. Funds will go toward:<ul><li>Attorney fees</li><li>Court filings</li><li>Expert witnesses</li><li>Ongoing legal defense</li></ul>Without additional financial support, the Benton family risks losing their ability to fight.

Andrew Bryan Community Development Corporation

Save the Benton Family Home & Drinking Water from Data Centers and Warehouses — Legal Defense Fund

Choose an amount:

$

You'll receive a tax receipt for making a donation.