For fifteen years, a creature leapt, prowled, and purred among us who many marveled at and only a few feared. This creature was named Bengal, as he was a Bengal cat. The first-born son in a family that would grow to nine at its peak, he was the ever-constant caterwaul at the back door, hoping for a break from the chaos, and a release into the wild where he would hunt with reckless abandon. Bengal was an avid traveler, one time appearing as a stray and taking a car ride to Rome, Georgia. In his free time locally, he enjoyed countless meals from neighbors despite the gastrointestinal distress it would cause. Bengal, looking like an endangered Asian leopard, was a great source of controversy on the world wide web. Was he stolen? Had he escaped from captivity? Was he dangerous? The neighborhood and city-wide Facebook pages would debate endlessly while the domesticated feline basked in the sun of his driveway oblivious to the turmoil he’d caused on his week-long jaunt around Cobb county. 



Bengal’s life was lengthened and brightened by the undying affection of his mother, Elizabeth Prillaman Hewett, who despite all advice, pleading, and weariness, ensured that Bengal reached his quinceañera for a celebration with style and joy culturally tangential to his origins. His sisters will miss looking out for him in the driveway as the family arrived home and sleeping with their parents when Bengal mistakenly sought out a litter box in their beds. Many have seen and known the dear Bengal from his consistent and entertaining presence on social media. 



Bengal was born on a day in February 2011 and died on March 27th, 2026, surrounded by his parents and medical professionals. We will miss his irked facial expressions, docile sleeping positions, and his vexing health issues. Bengal is preceded in death by brothers, Bernie and Shining Star. He is survived by his mother and father Elizabeth and Christopher Hewett, his three sisters, Barbara, Esther, and Lillias, aunts Becca Prillaman (Simba) and Emily Buck (Cody), and four tolerating grandparents, Beth and Colin Hewett, and Melanie and Owen Prillaman. We will miss him dearly, and we will never forget that all cats go to heaven.