About 20 people gathered to celebrate the life Peter Bennedum on May 21, a man who was known by those who loved him as a gentle, cheerful person.
Bennedum, a 45-year-old unhoused man who was the victim of a fatal attack in the City of Binghamton on April 27, was celebrated during a service at Christ Episcopal Church on Henry Street.
People lined the pews for the service, and the Bennedum family sat in front of a poster displaying pictures of Peter.
Rev. Scott Parnell led the church in prayer, later guiding those assembled through Peter’s life, from his perseverance through a childhood illness to his creativity as a musician and artist.
He referred to Peter as a man who had “resiliency that few could match.”
What happened at Henry, Carroll streets
The celebration of life took place a short distance away from the street corner where Binghamton Police found Bennedum unconscious on the sidewalk around 11 p.m. on April 27.
Police said their investigation determined he had been assaulted and left in critical condition by a group of five teenage boys earlier that evening, who posted a video of the attack as part of a social media trend targeting unhoused or drug addicted people on the street.
The ages of the alleged attackers range from 13 to 15, according to police.
Bennedum, authorities said, was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 1:21 p.m. on May 5, just over a week after the attack was first reported. The teens face second-degree murder charges.
What was said during the service
During his speech to the community gathered, Parnell said the qualifying word “homeless” does not matter — Peter was a son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and neighbor to everyone in Binghamton.
When he was just 11 months old, Peter was diagnosed with kidney problems that led to health complications as he grew up. In a story told to him by Peter’s family, Parnell said he got through his first kidney transplant as a teenager thanks to his “perseverance, cheerfulness and compassion.”
His health issues also didn’t prevent him from succeeding as a student — he kept his honor roll GPA and would often do his homework while on dialysis. In the midst of all of this, he found time to learn to play the guitar, sketch and do woodworking. He was a “creative and expressive” person.
“I wish Peter could’ve seen his dad beam as he told me that,” Parnell said. “He was so proud of Pete’s hard work.”
Peter was not perfect, Parnell said. He often “made decisions that were not the best,” and he struggled with addiction. Despite these challenges, Parnell said Peter’s family celebrated the times when Peter worked for his sobriety, showing “endless love, tenderness and compassion” to maintain their connection with him despite the circumstances.
“Whether it was meeting him at the library to drop off yet another ID card, or making sure that he had a warm place to stay, you have reminded us all that Peter was human in the purest sense of the word,” he said.
Parnell said Peter was “more than a homeless man,” and he, like everyone, has “a story” that goes beyond that label.
“Where we are in our stories might be different, the conditions of our lives we endure are different, but we all desire the same thing,” Parnell said. “I believe that we become most fully alive when we look to bring that out in one another. This is something that Peter knew all too well.”
As the service drew to a close, Rev. Kimberly Chastain, who knew and worked directly with Peter, led a prayer in his name.
“Father of all, we pray to you for Pete, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May his soul and the souls of all departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.”
When the service ended and the pianist’s song trailed off, attendees rose from the pews and trickled outside for refreshments. Some gathered to help serve small sandwiches while others huddled around and spoke to each other quietly.
One person came over from the Henry Street sidewalk to enjoy a free meal. Eventually, others arrived to join the group. On this night, in this space and in remembrance of Peter’s life, all were welcomed with open arms.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton remembers Peter Bennedum at heartfelt service
Reporting by Jillian McCarthy, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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