Born Dec. 31, 1903, to Joseph Oliver “Ollie” and Elizabeth Lenora Shelton Buckman of Calvary, Ky., Inez was the second of 14 children. Her first years of formal education were at Moores Creek School near Jessetown. Inez completed the seventh and eighth grades and high school at Mount Saint Joseph Academy. After entering the novitiate in 1920, Inez received the Ursuline habit on March 19, 1921, and the name Sister Joseph Benjamin.
Sister Joseph Benjamin’s years between 1921 and 1948 were spent teaching music (piano, organ, wind instruments and voice) in the parochial and public schools, first in Kentucky at Bardwell, Holy Cross, Stanley, and Flaherty, followed by Waterflow, N.M.; then Louisville (St. Angela); Paul, Neb.; Holy Cross, Shively, Stanley, and Waverly, Ky. In New Mexico, Sister organized an orchestra and at recitals had family members playing together. In 1948, she began teaching the middle elementary grades in Kentucky public and parochial schools, beginning at Stanley, followed by Mayfield, Knottsville, Raywick, Peonia, Holy Cross, St. Charles, Calvary, and Peonia. Following a car accident in 1971, Sister Joseph Benjamin returned to Mount Saint Joseph to live, but taught at St. Alphonsus School, just across the road from the Academy. She retired from formal teaching in 1975, but continued to tutor students and teach CCD until 1980.
Retiring completely from teaching, Sister Joseph Benjamin remained active and was involved in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program as long as her health permitted. In early September 1988, Sister received several blood transfusions at Mercy Hospital. She died in the Motherhouse infirmary on September 15, 1988. Father Anthony Shonis, chaplain, celebrated the funeral Mass; Father Edward Bradley, a former student, presided at the departure service; Father Freddie Byrd, instructor at Owensboro Catholic High School, conducted the graveside service on September 18, 1988. Sister Joseph Benjamin’s remains are buried in the convent cemetery.