SLS 24RS-4380 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 157
BY SENATOR DUPLESSIS
CONDOLENCES. Expresses sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends
of Jean Arnette Benjamin Vappie on the occasion of her passing.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
3 Louisiana to the family and friends of Jean Arnette Benjamin Vappie on the occasion
4 of her passing, and to celebrate and record for posterity her life and legacy as a
5 devoted wife, mother, educator, dance instructor, and community leader who touched
6 many lives through her faith, dedication, and service.
7 WHEREAS, Jean Arnette Benjamin was born on December 22, 1951, in New
8 Orleans, Louisiana; Jean's strong faith in God began with her baptism and confirmation at
9 Corpus Christi Catholic Church at an early age; and
10 WHEREAS, she received a Catholic education from Corpus Christi Elementary
11 School, Xavier University Preparatory, and Xavier University of Louisiana, where she
12 earned a Bachelor of Education in Health and Physical Education; and
13 WHEREAS, during her senior year of college, Jean pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha with
14 the Epsilon Tau Chapter at Xavier University; and
15 WHEREAS, she was honored with a fellowship to the University of Northern Iowa,
16 where she obtained her master's degree in Health, Physical Education, and Dance; and
17 WHEREAS, Jean began her teaching career with the Orleans Parish School System
18 at Alfred G. Priestley Junior High and concluded her twenty-year career at Francis W.
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SLS 24RS-4380 ORIGINAL
1 Gregory Junior High School, where she also coached track and field and sponsored the
2 majorettes; and
3 WHEREAS, in 1976, Jean, her sister Velda, and their late mother, Dr. Velma
4 Benjamin, founded The Benjamin's School of Dance & Gymnastics and The Benjamin's
5 Adult Fitness Center, providing instruction in ballet, tap, jazz, baton twirling, and
6 gymnastics; and
7 WHEREAS, The Benjamin's School of Dance & Gymnastics hosted twenty-nine
8 annual dance recitals, presenting record crowds and Broadway-style extravaganzas complete
9 with the pageantry of a queen and her court, priding themselves on preparing students for
10 the stage and life experiences related to the arts; and
11 WHEREAS, Jean married her elementary school sweetheart, retired Lieutenant
12 (NOPD) Russell Mark Vappie, and this union was blessed with a daughter, Beverly Alice;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Jean often expressed that her greatest gift from God was their daughter,
15 Beverly, and she and Russell supported every aspect of Beverly's life with love and devotion,
16 celebrating her graduation from Spelman College in 2016, with great joy and pride; and
17 WHEREAS, Jean was diagnosed with breast cancer twice and emerged victorious
18 on both occasions; and
19 WHEREAS, in 2017, she and Elizabeth Bridges co-founded the Benjamin & Yancy
20 Foundation, Incorporated in loving memory of Jean's mother, Dr. Velma Colbert Benjamin,
21 and Elizabeth's sister, Jacqueline (Jackie) Bridges Yancy who lost their battles with cancer;
22 the foundation promotes early cancer detection and offers screenings, therapy, and
23 educational support to individuals dealing with breast and prostate cancer; and
24 WHEREAS, Jean loved decorating her home during all holidays, especially Mardi
25 Gras, attending parades with her father and marveling at the colorful costumes and detailed
26 beadwork of New Orleans' own Mardi Gras Indians; and
27 WHEREAS, Jean enjoyed hosting family Thanksgiving dinners as a yearly tradition
28 and was a proud aunt to Cori, Keyana, and Trey; Jean's devotion to the Blessed Mother was
29 evident in her weekly rosary prayers and her hosting of the May crowning for several years;
30 and
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1 WHEREAS, Jean entered peacefully into eternal rest on Friday, May 24, 2024,
2 leaving behind a legacy of faith, dedication, and service.
3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
4 does hereby express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature
5 of Louisiana to the family and friends of Jean Arnette Benjamin Vappie on the occasion of
6 her passing, and celebrates and records for posterity her life and legacy as a devoted wife,
7 mother, educator, dance instructor, and community leader who touched many lives through
8 her faith, dedication, and service.
9 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
10 Beverly Alice Vappie.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Dawn Romero Watson.
DIGEST
SR 157 Original 2024 Regular Session Duplessis
Expresses the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
to the family and friends of Jean Arnette Benjamin Vappie on the occasion of her passing.
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