Augusta, GA
Thomson Mayor Benji Cranford faces federal lawsuit
THOMSON, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Thomson Mayor Benji Cranford is facing a federal lawsuit.
Cranford just took over as mayor last month after unseating Kenneth Usry, who served the city for 12 years.
News 12 found the lawsuit paints a different picture than Cranford’s campaign.
The lawsuit was filed just months before he launched his campaign for mayor — a campaign in which he promoted himself as a successful entrepreneur hoping to help others thrive in the business community just like him.
But the lawsuit reveals alleged financial troubles and broken promises.
Cranford touted the town and his success in political ads he ran locally last fall.
“I’ve made a good living in Thomson, and I want everyone else to know they can stay in Thomson to have a good living and be successful,” Cranford said in his campaign ad.
Just three months later, his business office doors are locked. Online, it shows it’s permanently closed.
Cranford posted on social media sites and his website about his paving company, C&H Paving, being a cornerstone of the town’s economic landscape.
But financial troubles and a lawsuit now threaten to shatter his tales of homegrown success.
Last July, four months before launching his campaign, Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland filed a lawsuit against Cranford.
As the bonding company, Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland was brought in to guarantee that large-scale projects undertaken by Cranford’s company would be completed.
The lawsuit says Cranford notified the bonding company that his business was having money problems. Cranford needed them to step in to pay debts, so he could keep his business running.
What’s at stake? Millions of dollars of contract work that Cranford has with the Georgia Department of Transportation.
READ THE LAWSUIT:
The lawsuit says Fidelity and Deposit Co. of Maryland agreed under certain conditions C&H would continue to help complete the projects by the deadlines with GDOT and give F&D access to all company and personal assets.
The lawsuit says Cranford broke the agreement.
It alleges C&H failed to complete projects on time, never transferred equipment for use and didn’t give F&D access to the company’s financial system.
Instead, the lawsuit says Cranford gifted his asphalt plant to one of his sons just two months after agreeing to pledge all of his properties to the bonding company.
Days after being elected as Thomson’s mayor, Cranford appeared to be someone who welcomed an open line of communication.
During an interview with News 12, he said: “You should be able to talk to your mayor. He’s the representative of the city. He’s the one that, he’s like your mama and your daddy. That’s who you go to.”
This week, News 12 tried several times to reach the mayor, including at his business office.
That’s when we were approached by a Thomson police officer who said Cranford was not available to talk nor in town.
Cranford did eventually respond to a text message.
When News 12 called to ask him about the lawsuit, the newly elected mayor, who ran on the slogan of “Grow. Unite. Listen,” cut News 12 off mid-sentence telling us to “Get to the point. He was very busy.” He advised us to schedule an appointment with the city clerk to speak to him.
We have since called the city clerk twice to set up a time to talk to Cranford.
The city clerk left a message Thursday that she didn’t know his schedule and would check on dates and times.
When News 12 followed up on Friday, no one picked up the phone at the clerk’s office.
In the lawsuit, the bonding company said it has suffered over $4 million in losses over Cranford’s projects and expects to shell out even more.
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Two Augusta-area Walmarts are among 13 Georgia locations that the retail giant plans to remodel and modernize in 2026.
In the past five years, the company said it has spent $961.5 million to upgrade its stores statewide.
Now, the company plans to change store layouts and services in its Augusta and Grovetown locations to make shopping faster and more convenient.
The locations are the Augusta Walmart Supercenter at 3338 Wrightsboro Road, near Augusta Mall, and the Grovetown Walmart Neighborhood Market at 5303-A Wrightsboro Road, where Wrightsboro and Harlem-Grovetown roads meet.
The Augusta location has been undergoing renovations since last fall.
The stores, when completely renovated, will include updated pharmacies offering vaccines, free delivery and clinical services such as basic health screenings and same-day testing for strep, the flu and COVID-19. Vision Centers also will be redesigned for improved privacy.
Also, computer apps will help customers better navigate stores, scan products’ prices and find exclusive app-only shopping deals.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia Gubernational candidate Geoff Duncan made another appearance in Augusta on Monday, speaking at the IBEW Local 1579 on Reynolds Street.
Duncan is one of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Duncan said when he served as lieutenant governor of the state, he fought to expand access to health care in rural communities. He said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on lowering costs in other areas.
Duncan stopped by NewsChannel 6 ahead of the campaign stop to speak about his plans.
“Look, 90% of Georgians know what they’re talking about when they want to pass commonsense gun legislation like universal background checks, red flag laws, and in-home safe storage laws. As governor, I want to lead the charge, and I want to give political cover to those Republicans that want to do the right thing, build those consensus around those bills,” Duncan said. “I hope to get some of them the cosign that legislation. Because it meets people where they’re at. It’s common sense. Look, I don’t want anybody to ever walk by a television screen and make another excuse for a mass shooting when it could have been stopped. With just common sense laws that are on the books.”
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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