Garla Jean (Robinson) Benjamin

Garla Jean (Robinson) Benjamin, affectionately known as “Benji,” born March 3, 1959 in Midland, Texas to Garland Robinson and Billie Jean (Polk) Robinson entered into eternal rest May 25, 2023 at the age of 64.

She joined the Navy at the age of 18 working as an aviation mechanic. While stationed in Rota, Spain her and her ex-husband Roger Wayne Benjamin welcomed their 2nd daughter Angela in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. She traveled around the world during her time in service and after 18 years, she was able to retire early. After her military service, she went back to school and graduated from Texas A&M at Commerce with a Bachelors in Management Information Systems. She went on to enter into civil service working at the VA Hospital in both Waco, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Garla was an active member of LifeChurch in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Garla was preceded in death by her parents, her sister (Connie Ruth Hubert) and one daughter. Those left to cherish her memory are 1 daughter: Angela Motley and her husband Chris Motley; 4 grandchildren: Madeline, Mason, Maddox, and Maxtyn; 1 uncle: James Jefferson and his wife Lei Jefferson; 1 niece: Tiana Cooper, 5 nephews: Demetrius Cooper and his wife Vontreece, Damien Cooper, Arthur Cooper, Karl Cooper, and Christopher Cooper; and several great nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Tuesday, June 13th at 6 p.m. at LifeChurch in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Her burial will be on Friday, June 23rd at 9:15 am at the Dallas-Ft Worth National Cemetery.