Rest in Peace Bennie

Rest in Peace Bennie             

James came by Manna House today.  He had some sad news to share.  His uncle Bennie died two weeks ago.  Bennie was a regular guest with us for several years.  Miss Roberta, his sister, would bring him.  They’d walk quite a distance to get to Manna House.  They weren’t homeless; they just liked to come to Manna House for the company, and to get a few personal hygiene items that they couldn’t really afford. 

For Miss Roberta, who was getting up in age, this certainly was not an easy journey to make to Manna House.  Bennie was lighter in his step, but he was a bit hunched over, and his stride was a distinctive short, almost hopping, motion.  He had a lot of nervous energy and moved about in the house and the yard quite a bit.  When they stopped coming to Manna House it was because they lived too far away, and Miss Roberta just couldn’t make the trip anymore.  Bennie did come without Miss Roberta on a few occasions, but it was quite rare.  He seemed lost without her.

Bennie was very difficult to understand.  He had, a number of years before, inadvertently ingested something that was poisonous (apparently from a girlfriend who was mad at him), and as Miss Roberta would say, “After that he just wasn’t right anymore.”  She would alternate between sweet patience and frustration with Bennie.  Bennie loved coffee, with lots of sugar and creamer.  He would put so much in the coffee that it became like soup, and he would sip it using a spoon.  He was a bit susceptible to spills, which Miss Roberta would clean up.  

Bennie also loved to get “napkins” which was what he called tissue for blowing his nose, which seemed to be perpetually running.  The clearest we ever heard Bennie speak was when he came in the clothing room one day, and he was asked if he wanted some clothes hangers (we had so many extras we were giving them away).  He very forcefully said, “I don’t want any damn hangers.”  There was no misunderstanding him that day.

Bennie had a hard time staying out of the clothing room.  He’d remember something that he had forgotten to ask for and he’d want to come back in.  Some days this would happen five or six times, and each time we’d have to tell Bennie he couldn’t come back in after leaving.  I’m thinking Miss Roberta was probably right to alternate between patience and frustration with Bennie. 

One of the things about their relationship that was very evident was that she loved him dearly.  She watched out for him, made sure the street was clear before they’d cross.  She served as his translator when he’d come into the clothing room for “socks and hygiene.”  In some ways she seemed like a parent to him, caring for him, making sure he was safe.

When we started Manna House nine years ago, I had no idea how many wonderful people I’d meet as we shared hospitality.  And some of those wonderful folks have also been unforgettable characters.  Bennie was certainly one of those.  Rest in peace Bennie.  You will be missed.