Alma Eileen Bennett was born to Richard Lee and Ida Earl (Baxter) Thomas, Sr. on August 17, 1938 in Beloit, Dallas County, Alabama, nine miles outside of Selma.  Her family affectionately called her "Doll" because she looked like a doll baby when she was born. The six children were reared by their loving Uncle Reverend Edward Baxter and his wife Ida Mae Baxter after the passing of their mother.

Alma was the third of six children, three of them preceded her in death, Edwina Johnnie Lou (Charles) Lee, Hartford, Connecticut, Ida Bell Joyce (Theodore) Taylor, San Bruno, California and Sena Anne (Anderson) Ware of Seattle, Washington.

She accepted Christ at an early age and attended Hopewell Baptist Church in Beloit, Alabama.

She received her formal education in public school at The Beloit Industrial Institute at Beloit, Alabama where she was the salutatorian of her class.

She was joined in holy matrimony to Master Sergeant Norman Edwin Bennett from Alberta, Alabama in Bessemer, Alabama on July 3, 1957.  To this union six children were born.

She attended American River College in Sacramento, California pursuing an Associate of Arts in Psychology and earned her Real Estate License.  She also worked at the Commissary at McClellan Air Force Base on Watt Avenue in North Highlands, California.

Master Sgt. Norman E. Bennett served in the United States Army for 24 years.  Alma and the family were afforded the opportunity to travel and was stationed at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York; Fort Meade, Maryland; Fort Devens, Massachusetts; overseas at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia in Africa and settled down in North Highlands,  Antelope, North Las Vegas and Lancaster, California.

Alma worked for Arrow Shirt Company as a seamstress in Maryland. She was active with the wives of the Non-Commissioned Officers Club and participated in several fashion shows.

She was a certified Florist.  Her hobbies included being a skilled seamstress for her family and friends.  She created beautiful hand-made dresses for her daughters.  She liked creating ceramic ashtrays and figurines, mosaic tile picture frames and vases personalized.  She enjoyed cat fishing in the country, crocheting blankets and scarfs, canning peaches from the trees in the backyard.  Alma had a green thumb. She planted and harvested a garden of vegetables, fresh fruit, flowers, and plants wherever she lived.

She macraméd hanging plant holders, quilted, wrote rhythm and blues songs, and had her daughters singing them by heart.  Baking was another forte and creating gourmet meals along with homemade peanut brittle candy and carved ice. She created extravagant décor and table setting for each major holiday. She was the family historian, wrote short family stories and enjoyed photography. Alma taught her friends, family,  children and grandchildren many of her talents, skills and ability.