Moss, Bennie's Obituary
Our beloved matriarch, master cook, sassy truth-teller, and backbone of our family, Bennie R. Moss, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025, in Lakebay, Washington, at the beautiful age of 82.
Born on February 12, 1943, in Bogalusa, Louisiana, to her parents Ira and Olivia. Bennie grew up surrounded by a strong family foundation. She was one of 8 siblings: RT, James, Ozell, Ed, David, Zola, May and Martha.—all of whom shared her deep love for family.
She is preceded in death by her parents Ira and Olivia, six siblings; RT, James, Ozell, Ed, Zola and David. She also joins in peace two of her children, Deborah and Brian, and her precious granddaughter, Tamrah “Bam”—a reunion we know was full of tight hugs, joyful tears, and the kind of laughter only Bennie’s tribe could share.
Bennie’s legacy is as rich and flavorful as the dishes she was known for. A proud retiree of the Washington State Department of Corrections, Bennie served as a cook faithfully for over 20 years, and retired after 13 dedicated years at the Purdy Women’s Correctional Facility.
But her impact extended far beyond institutional walls—Bennie was a true entrepreneur at heart. Bennie operated a Boutique in Tacoma where she would travel to New York and bring back the latest fashions. Her love for cooking and feeding people led her to open her own catering business and later her restaurant, Bennie’s Southern Touch, where her food became a taste of home for many.
”She was a mother of four : Marion, Broderick , Deborah and Brian, she embraced her son in-law Charles Humphrey Sr. and she later adopted her grandson Tino Martin-Moss. But her nurturing spirit went even further. Bennie helped raise all of her grandchildren and became a second mother to her granddaughters when their own mother—her youngest daughter Debbie—passed. Through love and strength, she provided a safe haven, warm meals, and lifelong lessons rooted in discipline, pride, and family tradition.
Her grandchildren—Erica, Lakisha, Sharice, Tamrah, Lil Charles , and Tyrell and great-grandchildren—Amaru, Juju, Sissy, Cartier, Londynn, Falynn, Nehemiah, Jykari, Kadence, Demarion, Charlie, Shemouri and Archie—were her pride and joy. She showed up for them in every way that mattered. Whether in the kitchen, graduation, or the school play—her presence was powerful, and her love undeniable.
Bennie was tenacious and full of wisdom, a no-nonsense woman who didn’t sugarcoat anything. She loved her family fiercely and made sure you knew it—whether it came through a warm plate, a sharp tongue, or a tight hug. Her sass was unmatched, her card game skills legendary, and her joy multiplied in the company of her family, where laughter and love were always in abundance.
She was a woman who didn’t just live life—she seasoned it. And if you were lucky, you got to taste her famous Gumbo with a cajun kick, or her peach cobbler that could make you sing.
Though Bennie has taken her rest, her stories, her strength, and her sass live on in every one of us who had the privilege to know and love her.
“Her roots ran deep, her love ran deeper, and her legacy will last forever.”
What’s your fondest memory of Bennie?
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Describe a day with Bennie you’ll never forget.
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