Los Angeles resident Joan V. Bennett passed away recently at her Harbor City residence. A longtime member of Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church (BKCAME), Bennett served on the Senior Usher Board for more than 30 years.
Her celebration of life service will be held Friday, May 19, at 1 p.m., at BKCAME, located at 3719 W. Slauson Ave., in Los Angeles. Pastor Mary S. Minor will officiate the memorial.
In addition to her church involvement, Bennett was an active volunteer with several nonprofit organizations. In 2014, the National Urban League (NUL) recognized Bennett’s contributions by inducting her into the NUL Quarter Century Club. She also donated considerable time and resources to the Junior Blind of America.
A few years ago, Bennett shared that one of her most memorable experiences was as a Travelers Aid Society (TAS) volunteer at Los Angeles International Airport. During her 27-year tenure, she assisted the public and other visitors seeking help, trained new TAS volunteers and worked in all eight terminals and every shift from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Recalling her long TAS career, Bennett said in 2011 that one notable encounter was being assigned to meet a flight at the gate to receive a pair of human eyes from pilot.
“I was to deliver the container to a medical van waiting curbside to take the eyes to a hospital patient who was waiting to be able to see,” she said.
