Bennie was born in Rural Gilliam, Louisiana on October 25, 1931 to the late John Henry Robbins and Clara Douglas. She was the youngest of her siblings and spent most days at her mother’s side learning to sew, garden and tend to her pet cow, Susie.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at St. Elmore Baptist Church in Gilliam.
Throughout her formative years at Booker T. Washington High School in Shreveport, Bennie excelled at sewing and decided to pursue it as a career. Every weekend she would design a fancy outfit to go dancing; it was at one of those dances that she met her future husband, Clifton Atkins.
In 1964 Bennie and Clifton moved from Shreveport, Louisiana to Dallas, TX and raised eight children during their union.
Over a span of 40 years Bennie would sew for Sears, Jas K Wilson, Sanger Harris and Silverman’s, finally retiring from Mark Shale.
Bennie is preceded in death by her parents, siblings, husband (Clifton), and daughters Marvette Sturges (David) and Kassandra Sanders (Virgil).
She is survived by her children: Clifton Jr., Miguel (Sylvia), Lillian, Alanya (April), Ivan (Shelley), and Byron (LaShonda), many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Bennie will be terribly missed by all who knew her.