Benville, Illinois: Grave of Robert Earl Hughes, World's Heaviest Man
He weighed 1041 pounds and was buried in a piano case. His tombstone probably weighs less than he did.
Benville Church
- Address:
- Hwy 104, Benville, IL
- Directions:
- From Quincy, travel east about 28 miles on Hwy 104, turning north at the small brown sign for Wildwood. Travel up about two miles past the girl scout camp to a T intersection. The Benville Church is located at that intersection; Hughes' grave is behind it.
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Robert Earl Hughes Grave - World's Heaviest Man
Readers of the Guinness Book of World Records know who Robert Earl Hughes was - the World's Heaviest Man! He weighed 1041 lb at death, and was buried in a piano case. But far fewer people know WHERE he is buried - Benville, Illinois, a town of 2 houses and a church in the middle of nowhere. He is buried in the church graveyard beneath a modest grey granite headstone labeled with his name and 'World's Heaviest Man'. Nothing flashy - a very peaceful resting place for an extraordinary man.
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There's also a small, modern black slab monument to Hughes, about two miles west of the turnoff for Wildwood. Turn south off of Hwy 104 onto Hwy 6 and you'll quickly see a feed store to the right. On the left, across the highway, is the monument, at the corner of Hwy 6 and Perry Fishhook Rd. Hughes grew up in Fishhook. May 2018: Photo added.