Benjamin Franklin Hadley Sr.

Benjamin Franklin Hadley Sr. was born in Columbus, Georgia, on September 3, 1948, to the late Alice Mae Hadley and Joseph Hadley. The youngest child was welcomed by his four siblings: General "Ted" Callier, Alfred Hadley, Frances J. Morrison, and Zanna E. James.Ben graduated from William H. Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia, in 1967. On May 29, 1968, he joined the Army as a cook and was deployed to Vietnam. After his discharge from the military, Ben moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he found work that let him pursue his passion for cooking. There, he met the love of his life, Mamie Hagans. Together, they had two children, Alicia Hadley and Benjamin Hadley Jr. He was also the stepfather of Tony Hagans, Amelia Campbell, and Jijuan Hagans.In 1979, Mr. Hadley joined the Essex County Board of Education's Food Services and Nutrition department, where he was recognized for his dedication and service. He retired in 2008 as a senior cook.Throughout his years, Ben has been recognized as a generous man who has given his time to help others by donating to or volunteering for countless organizations. He was very humble and never asked for anything in return, just a smile and a pay-it-forward. Whether it was himself or working with his Masonic Brothers from Doric Lodge, Ben was always giving.He loved to play golf, always talking about himself and his brother, Joe, and joking that Joe was always trying to cheat. Other than cooking for anyone who was around, he also enjoyed music, especially from the sixties and seventies. Or you can hear the television blasting Western movies, from Gunsmoke to anything with Clint Eastwood.Ben loved and was loved by many. He was a great sibling, father, uncle, and friend who wanted nothing but to make people feel good and smile. He will be missed by all.