Benton Grady Wislinski

December 10, 1985 - December 27, 2024

Benton passed away unexpectedly December 27 from cardiomegaly. He was born to Kathleen Wade and Robert Wislinski in Columbia, S.C. He attended Richland One public schools and graduated a proud Blue Devil of Dreher High School where he played soccer and was State AAA Player of the Year his senior year.

He continued to play soccer at Randolph Macon College outside Richmond, Virginia, where he earned his BA in Sociology and International Relations, was a Presidential Scholar, and was given the Fitzgerald Award for Outstanding Sociology Major.  During the summer months of college, Ben had several jobs giving him the opportunity to learn the workings of public service. Those included the Richland County Treasurer’s Office, the SCDMV, constituent service for Representative James Smith, and the Virginia Attorney General’s office. Following RMC graduation, he went on to serve as an intern in the Washington D.C. office of Congressman Jim Clyburn. All those public service experiences led him to enroll at George Washington University and earn his Master of Public Administration at the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration with concentration in Environmental and Resource Management Policy, Economics, Administration, and Public Health Policy.

During his D.C. days, while attending George Washington University, Ben held posts as Policy Coordinator for the Alliance for Retired Americans and as Consultant for the Student Conservation Association. Upon completing his MPA, he remained in D.C. and served as Grassroots and Project Director for the Dialysis Patient Citizens Organization and then as Senior Director, Grassroots and Internal Advocacy for the American Diabetes Association.

In late 2012, Ben decided to return to Columbia where he founded BGW Solutions, LLC, which concentrated on government relations, lobbying, marketing, communications, campaigns, and development across all market sectors. He was particularly interested in, and passionate about, representing non-profit organizations that work to protect our environment, ensure human rights for all, safeguard consumers, and help people in need. A few of his clients were The Sierra Club South Carolina Chapter, SC Equality, The Palmetto Foundation, and SCCADVASA.  Through the years, Ben also managed and worked on campaigns for local government candidates as well as ballot referendums.

Ben was instrumental in building and establishing several coalitions which educate and advocate for solutions that balance the needs of the environment, the community, and the economy. One such organization is Sustainable Midlands, a non-profit organization that strives to meet those needs of the Midlands community, and Ben has served as a Board member for more than a decade.

Ben was predeceased by his Father, Robert Charles Wislinski. Surviving are his Mother, Kathleen Mae Wade; Stepfather, Frank “Val” Valenta; Stepmother, Mary Patricia Callahan; Grandmother, Harriett Benton Wade McElveen; Stepbrothers, Trey (Angie) Valenta and Michael (Holly) Valenta; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Wade, Valenta, Wislinski, Callahan, Benton, McElveen families. Additionally, Ben dearly loved his tight-knit group of Dreher Blue Devil buddies and Randolph Macon Yellowjacket buddies, and he considered them family.

We, Ben’s family, are so grateful for the brilliant life of our Ben and extremely proud of the many good works he accomplished in his short time. He left us much too soon, but we will treasure the time we had with him, and we will forever miss his light, his love, his passion, and his ever-present quick wit.

Services for Benton Wislinski will be Friday, January 10, at 1:00 pm at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 2827 Wheat Street, Columbia, SC 29205. A reception will follow.

Memorials may be made to the Sierra Club South Carolina Chapter   South Carolina Chapter | Sierra Club ;  SC Equality  SC Equality – Equal Means Everyone ;   The Palmetto Foundation  Palmetto Foundation For Prevention & Recovery;  or any non-profit organization that works for a clean environment, supports human rights of everyone, and helps people in need.