By Myrian Orea The Rev. D.N. Benford Sr., the longest-serving pastor of a single church and among the city’s most influential leaders, died Monday in a local hospital. He was 94. Benford pastored the 109-year-old Rising Star Mission Baptist Church, 302 N. Oak St., for 73 years before falling ill and dying at HCA Houston Mainland, church spokeswoman Ursula Burns said. Benford had preached his  final Sunday morning sermon on Easter. “ e news of Rev. Doris N. Benford’s passing was both heartbreaking and monumental for Galveston County,” city Commissioner  Thelma Bowie, whose family has a long history in the church, said. “I was taught and baptized by this great man. Reverend Benford made every child coming through Rising Star feel special and loved. A mighty warrior for Christ took his rest after generations and generations of families were taught the word of God.”

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