Burnell Bennings, 86, of Mechanicsville, MD formerly of Riverdale, MD died July 28, 2007 in St. Mary’s Hospital. Born April 11, 1921 in Prattsville, AR he was the son of the late Ruby Yates and Leonard Homer Bennings. He was preceded in death by his wife Lorraine Chase Bennings whom he married in 1943 in Washington, DC. He is survived by his children: Barbara Bennings and Burnell B. Bennings both of Mechanicsville, MD and John Bennings of Eldersburg, MD; siblings: Charles Bennings of Redding, CA, Carson Bennings of McKinleyville, CA and Gloria Deere of Malvern, AR; 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his daughter: June Marie Courtney; siblings: Bobby Bennings and Germaine Livingston. Mr. Bennings attended Central High School, he moved to St. Mary’s County in 2001. He worked as a facility manager for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for 11 years until his retirement in 1981. He also served in the U.S. Navy for 36 years from 1940 – 1976 during WWI where he was stationed in the South Pacific and the Atlantic. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and he enjoyed gardening, wood working and latch hooking. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD, where Prayers will said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, August 2, 2007 at 10:00 AM in St. John’s Catholic Church, Hollywood, MD with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 4111 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland, MD 20746. Pallbearers will be Justin Davis, David Knutson, David Knutson, Jr., Bob Hicks and Randy Carroll. Contributions may be made to St. John’s Building Fund, 43927 St. John’s Road, Hollywood, MD 20636 and/or Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 79, Hollywood, MD 20636. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.