Ben Merchant Langford

Ben Merchant Langford, 66, died at his home in Lexington on March 23, 2007. A memorial service will be held at 2 PM Thursday at First United Methodist Church, 310 South Main Street, Lexington. The family will receive friends after the service and other times at the home. Ben was born June 30, 1940 in Saluda, SC to the late James Fred Langford, Sr. and Nannie Viola Merchant Langford. He graduated from Saluda High School and attended Clemson University. In 1965 he moved to Lexington, his wife’s home town, began work in the auto parts industry, and established Southern Auto Parts. With his entrepreneurial spirit, keen business acumen, and strong work ethic, the business grew quickly and expanded to Thomasville and Asheboro. After selling his business to CarQuest in 2000, he never really retired. He served as a consultant and worked anywhere he was needed to help a friend. He was devoted to his family, many friends, and community and enjoyed spending time outside, especially on his farm in Linwood, which reminded him of his childhood. Over the years, he actively participated in various civic organizations and served as president of the Lexington Civitan Club and local Masonic lodge. Ben was a real man’s man that loved taking care of his family and joking around with what he called “my kind of people”. In addition to his parents, his brother, Fred Langford, and sister, Brenda Langford Fowler, preceded him in death. Surviving are his wife, Sarah Gibson Langford; his three children, Michele Langford Grier and her husband, Niels, of Lexington; Thad Davidson Langford and his wife, Susan, of Fairway, Kansas; and Elizabeth Langford and her husband, Bram, of Richmond, Virginia; five grandchildren, Z Kurt Grier, Kathryn Elizabeth Grier, Alexander Barnes Hall, Rachel Elizabeth Hall, and Kathryn Bryson Langford; and two sisters, Katilene Langford Holmes and Shirley Langford Logan. Memorials may be made to a local charity of choice or First United Methodist Church.