Born on November 8, 1940, to Ardella and Ben McCord in Tyler, Alabama, Robert "Ben" McCord, Sr. lived a life defined by family, faith, and hard work. After losing his mother at the tender age of eight, Ben moved to Selma, Alabama. There, he was raised by his Aunt Lena Bell and Uncle Eddie Mack Daniels as one of their own, growing up alongside their eleven (11) children.

After attending Shiloh High School in Sardis, Alabama, Ben relocated to Gulfport, Mississippi, with Aunt Lena Bell's family, settling on Woodward Avenue. Life changed beautifully when he met Eyvonne Jackson in Beaumont (Perry County). The couple married in 1961 and built a beautiful life together, welcoming ten children into the world - Bobby Ray "Gator", Robert Charles "Bam", Steve, Jason, Drena, Dedra, Jacqueline "Jackie", Anthony "Bo", Joycelyn "Joycie", and Timothy "Timmy".

Ben was a cornerstone of the Gulfport community in more ways than one. He gave 46 years of dedicated service to the City of Gulfport, retiring in 1999 as the supervisor of the Streets & Drainage crew. His faith was equally steadfast; as a devoted deacon and Male Choir member at Little Rock Baptist Church, his rich baritone voice was a congregation favorite—particularly his unforgettable rendition of the second verse of The Temptations' Silent Night.

Ben was reunited in eternity with his parents; his second parents, Lena and Eddie Mack; his beloved wife, Eyvonne; his sister, Betty May McCord; his three sons, Bobby Ray, Robert Charles, and Anthony; his grandson, Sedrick; sibling-cousins Eddie Mack Daniels, Iantha Magee, Lorraine Gates, Rosilyn Eberhart; and Mass "Flea" Daniels.

He leaves behind a vast and loving family to carry on his memory including his children: Steve (Cherronda), Jason (Brenda), Timothy (Amber), Drena, Dedra (Jessie) Bridges, Jacqueline (Alvin) Robinson, and Joycelyn; his brother,Willie C. McCord; and his lifelong sibling-cousins: Lucious Daniel, Wendell (Judy) Daniels, Ruthie McInnis Casey, Alice (Danny) Haynes, Margaret Marshall, and Rosemary Burns. Ben's love also multiplies through his 21 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.