It was a warm Thursday, August 29, 1946, when Bessie Joyce Claiborne (Johnson) came into this world at Huey P. Long Charity Hospital in Pineville, Louisiana, born to her parents, the late Mildred and Marshall Johnson. This date is etched in the hearts of anyone who loved her because she loved celebrating her birthday. Other significant births and events have happened on this date since, but she had it first. For 78 years, she reveled in the calls, dinner outings, and gestures of love that flooded in to mark her special day. She would remember your birthday, too.

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Affectionately known as Bennie, she was a short but mighty warrior. A woman of unwavering faith, she stood firm in her love for Jesus Christ, believing that the path to clarity through life’s challenges was found in fasting and prayer. Bennie also knew that Jesus was loving and forgiving, and she treated others with that same grace.

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From the very beginning, Bennie carried a powerful presence, a voice that commanded attention, and a spirit that could not be dimmed.

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Growing up on Chickamaw, Bennie was the 8th of 11 children, including Freddie Lee, Margie, Marshall (Jelly Bean), James, Aaron, Johnny (Earkie), and Laura. Still with us are Joseph “Ray” Johnson (Sylvia), Betty “Pie Lee” Armstead Dotson, and Elton “Louis” Johnson (LaDonna).

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Bennie was the proud mother of five: James “Mickey” Claiborne III, Jennifer Denise Claiborne Collins (Donald), Bobby Joe Claiborne, the late Margie Ann Claiborne, and Stephanie Renee Claiborne. She was the loving grandmother of 24, a cherished great-grandmother of 30, and a beloved aunt, cousin, and friend. She loved her children fiercely, but her grandkids and great-grands? She adored them. No matter where they were in the world, Bennie was there supporting, cheering, and loving them with everything she had. Their biggest champion, she found joy in watching them live unapologetically, always encouraging them to do great things and walk boldly in their purpose.

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She never hesitated to speak her mind; anything that came out of her mouth was bold and often produced laughter or shock. She was a firecracker who had just as much sass as she did humility—a gift that’s surely been passed down to her grandchildren and great-grands. Bennie’s spirit lives on in the colorfulness, the strength, and the courage of her descendants. Her legacy remains in the stories we tell and how we tell them with truth, humor, and heart. She was the greatest pity-pat player on both sides of the Mississippi, the queen who reigned supreme no matter your age or experience level. She was going to rack up! And nobody, I mean nobody, could clean and cook greens or chitlins the way she did.

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She loved her go-to movies. Put on “Ike and Tina,” The Five Heartbeats, The Temptations, or Dirty Dancing, and she was glued to the screen like it was the first time, even if it was the 100th.

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Bennie ran the best custodial service in Alexandria, and many of her grandchildren earned their first paychecks—plenty of 50-cent pieces—helping her out. If there was a stubborn ring around your toilet or tub, or your stove was covered with caked-on grease and grime, Bennie had just the remedy to make it look like new. She took pride in her work, making sure her buildings were spotless, and it showed in the loyalty of her clients. There was no halfway with Bennie. “Do it right the first time, and you won’t have to do it again.”

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On Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the age of 78, Bennie’s soul transitioned from her earthly body. The date itself holds special significance to us now, but the day of the week? Sunday? That mattered most to her; it was her favorite day of the week. Bennie loved her Sunday church service. She’d rush you off the phone to get ready because one of her cousins was on the way to pick her up for church. She wouldn’t miss a service on Chickamaw for anything, and she was a faithful and dependable servant at Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, as evident in the mission work she selflessly participated in.

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She leaves behind a family and community forever touched by her presence. Though her body is lifeless, her spirit remains alive in the stories, lessons, and love she poured into everyone she knew. She loved seeing us enjoy life and have a good time, and she had so much fun right alongside us. Family and friends, with this, we honor and remember the incredible, one-of-a-kind Bennie Claiborne.

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Bessie Joyce “Bennie” Claiborne will be deeply missed, but she made sure she will never be forgotten.