On Friday, April 7, 2017, Bennie M. Keene, age 83 of Pikesville, went home to be with the Lord.Preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years, Ronald L. Keene, Sr., she is survived by her loving children, Ronald L. Keene, Jr., Dawn M. Keene and step-daughter Myra McNair, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and her sister Bernice Offord.
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BENNIE MAE KEENE, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, entered this world December 18, 1933. At 83 years young, Bennie departed this life on April 7, 2017 surrounded by family and dear friends. She was the fourth child, born to her parents Benjamin McNulty and Mollie Reid McNulty in Asheville, North Carolina. Bennie received Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Despite her mother Mollie becoming widowed when Bennie was only four, Bennie managed to savor a joyful childhood with her older siblings Ben Jr., Louise, Bernice, little sister Christine and orphaned cousins Clarence and Jesse, who were adopted by her mother. Bennie delighted in childhood things like hopscotch, playing with paper dolls and playing with her prized dog, Tippi.

Nicknamed "Nutty" by her schoolmates, Bennie was fun-loving and popular at her beloved Stephens Lee High School, the school that the students affectionately called "Castle on the Hill". Bennie was inducted into Stephens Lee's prestigious scholastic honor society, the Crown and Scepter Club. She was a member of the marching band, student council and yearbook staff Noted in her class yearbook, Bennie was credited as being instrumental in developing the solution to use the main school building and gym to alleviate crowded halls during lunch hour. Her yearbook quote reads, "If a man would be alone, let him look at the stars".

A few years after high school, Bennie met the love of her life, Ronald Keene (Ronnie), through a friend and classmate while Ronnie was serving in the Air Force and stationed at a North Carolina air base. After Ronnie's marriage proposal, Bennie later joined Ronnie in Baltimore, where they were married by the late Reverend Dr. Willard Clayton.

A gentle and friendly person, Bennie made friends in Baltimore very easily, and those friendships endured through her lifetime. While raising two young children, Bennie enrolled at Coppin State College, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in teaching. After graduation, she taught at several Baltimore city schools, attained a Master's degree in education, and rounded out her tenure of teaching at Pimlico Elementary school in 1996.

The fun times with Bennie's friends were lasting and they evolved into social clubs, naming themselves, "Just Friends", "The Birthday Club" and "The Bronze Butterflies". Bennie always enjoyed reading, and when an old friend asked her to join her book club, "Leah's Book Club", Bennie excitedly became a member. Another favorite past time of hers was to join good friends regularly at the movies. Following retirement, she was introduced to the game of bridge, and Bennie was over the moon with learning and playing the game.

Bennie loved her new family and friends in Baltimore and continued to love her family in Asheville, and she didn't miss opportunities to join the two. She, Ronnie and the kids would make numerous road trips to Asheville to visit family and friends with their adored family dog, Brutus, along with them. Bennie acquired a fondness for cruising, including multiple Caribbean cruises, an Alaskan cruise and a Hawaiian cruise. She also enjoyed day trips to New York for a Broadway play, up to Sight Sound Theatre in Pennsylvania or down to Washington to the Kennedy Center or Arena Stage.

As a mother and grandmother, Bennie was a champion for her family and they will forever be thankful for her love, dedication, and always being on their side. Her children each called Bennie their best friend - she spent endless hours on the phone with Dawn and Ronnie talking about nothing, but each moment with her meant everything. Bennie instilled the importance of travel and fun to her children, so she orchestrated trips to Sandy Point Beach and Myrtle Beach, day trips to New York and Atlantic City, cruises to the Caribbean, and endless visits to Ronnie and Dawn's homes in Philadelphia and Detroit. Similarly, Bennie did anything and everything she could for her grandchildren, including annual trips to Potomac Mills for school clothes, attending every graduation and awards ceremony, and stopping everything to come live with them when their mother was ill. Bennie's children and grandchildren meant the world to her and she never missed an opportunity to express her love to them in countless ways.

Deaconess Bennie Keene loved her Macedonia family immensely, serving in the following capacities and ministries: Deaconess, Church Archives, Ladies Guild, Usher Board, Silver Threads, Christian Education Council, Food Bank and she also actively participated in Bible Study. She especially loved serving as a Sunday school teacher. She looked forward to teaching a new lesson and fellowshipping intimately with her class. Deaconess Keene often gave her Sunday school class small tokens of appreciation and invited them to the house for breakfast and backyard barbeques.

Bennie's. time here with her family and friends ended much sooner than expected. This was hard, but she was a fortunate woman, who led a blessed existence, and for this she was grateful. Bennie would like her friends and family to know that her life was full and joyful, but her work here is done. She received a call to go home to the Lord and reunite with her husband, parents, brothers, sisters, and family and friends who are awaiting her in heaven. Bennie's new mission takes her to a wonderful destination where she can hop on a cruise with Ronnie, have her nails and hair done every day, socialize, play bridge, garden and read to her heart's content - music, laughter and love are assured. From her teacher's desk, she left detailed instructions for her children to promote and celebrate her legacy. Rest well Bennie Mae and enjoy your reward. We will see you again.

An unwavering believer, Bennie has left an heirloom of precious memories for her family. Left to honor and cherish her life are her children, Ronald L. Keene, [r., Dawn M. Keene; step-daughter Myra A. McNair, daughter of the heart Michelle Desaussure, five grandchildren, Ronald L. Keene, III, Tia James (nee McNair); Chris A. Keene, Shantel A. Keene, and Rachel M. Keene; seven great- grandchildren; one sister Bernice Offord, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and unforgettable best friends, Ernestine Watts and Patria Hill.

Viewing Joseph H. Brown Jr. Funeral Home Friday, April 14, 2017 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM Email Details 2140 N. Fulton Ave
Baltimore, Maryland 21217 Directions Funeral Service Macedonia Baptist Church Saturday, April 15, 2017 09:30 AM Email Details 718 W Lafayette Ave
Baltimore, MD 21217 Funeral to begin @ 10A Directions