I have seen several sources, including the "Benefield Bennefield Bedingfield" book, mention the children of James K. Benefield and Alsey Kimbrell and among them is listed a Needham G. Bennefield born June 1832 in Newton County GA.

These sources go on to say that this son of James K., Needham, enlists with the 1st GA Regulars, marries Caroline "Kelly" Smith and is burried in Winston County (Cullman) Alabama.

I'd like to somehow set the record straight. James K. Benefield did indeed have a son named Needham Greenberry Bennefield born in Newton County June 1832. But, although his father moved to Winston County his son Needham did not, nor did he marry Caroline Smith.

James K. Benefield had a brother named Hardy Benefield. Hardy married Florance Serena Camp and among other children had a son named Needham Nathaniel Benefield. This Needham N. Benfield was born 3/18/1837 in Heard County GA. He married twice once to Caroline Kelly Smith and to C or J Smith. He enlisted in the 1st GA Regulars Company H from Lawernceville GA. Hardy moved from Gwinnett Co and had a brief stay in Heard County then returned to Gwinnett. Needham N. Benefield was wounded (he had 2 fingers shot off) in the Civil War, he also suffered typhoid fever and was discharged 8/1/1863 at Rappahannock, VA. Needham N. Benefield returned to his home county of Gwinnett and then moved to Winston County where his UNCLE James K. Benefield was. After his wife died, he moved back to Gwinnett County GA for only a few months then returned to Winston County Alabama and lived with one of his daughters and son-in-law (Susan "Readie" Benefield and J. H. Godbee or Godby). He even fathered a child at age 70. He died and is burried next to Caroline Kelly Smith in Winston County. A record of all this and more is among his Civil War pensions (He applied 1st in Alabama, then once in Georgia, then again in Alabama. He has witnesses including his sister Nancy (who states she is 3 years older than Needham). Needham N. also states on his GA application that he lived in Gwinnett all his life up until 1870 when he moved to AL.

So that leaves us with the question "What Happened to Needham G. Bennefield, son of James K. Benefield?". Well according to Campbell County GA records, he bought 202 acres of land in 1854 which was witnessed by his brother William H. Benefield (who had married Mary Shelnut). Needham married Mary last name unknown and had 6 children prior to enlisting on 4/25/1862 with Company A, 56th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry of Cambell and Coweta Counties. His wife gave birth to a 7th child that same year - which she named Needham Greenberry Benefield jr. Needham G. son of James K. was killed during the war. His wife, Mary remarried Joseph B. Copeland and they moved to Brownsville, Lee County Alabama (which later became Russell County and Phenix City) - Mary had 2 more children with Joseph (Nancy Copeland and John Copeland). Lee County later divided and became part of Russell County. Joseph Copeland and Mary moved to Virginia in 1878, both died and are burried there. A section of Mary's obituary reads "She was 82 years of age and was twice married, her first husband being Mr. Needham G. Benefield, of Georgia who died during the civil war." Needham Greenberry Benefield and Mary's son, Stephen Jackson Benefield, was the only one to remain in Phenix City AL where he was burried in 1932. Stephen Jackson Benefield married Mary Malindy "Polly" Abbott from Randolph County AL, and they had 4 boys:
Needham Henry Benefield b: 6/18/1882,
Curtis Frederick Benefield b: 9/3/1889 (my Grandfather),
Felbert Leroy Benefield b: 3/3/1891,
Stephen Daniel Benefield b: 7/9/1889.