Thomas W. Henderson Jr.

The Reverend T. W. Henderson, 88, passed away February 4, 2012, at the G. V. Sonny Montgomery VA Hospital after a brief illness. Visitation with family will be 4-7pm, February 6 at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home, Pearl, and 9-10am February 7 at First Baptist Church, Pearl, followed by the funeral service at 10am.

Rev. Henderson was born November 18, 1923, in the Shongelo Community of Smith County, the youngest of five children of Walter and Ida Vaughan Henderson. He grew up in Smith County and attended Raleigh High School. After his father died in 1938, he and his mother moved to Pearl City where he worked in the canteen at Knox Glass and in McKinley’s Market.

In 1943 T. W. joined the Army Air Forces and was a proud member of the 578th Air Materiel Squadron, 25th Air Service Group, 20th Air Force, assigned to service the new B-29 Superfortress bombers at air bases in Khraghpur, India, and on Tinian Island. T. W. loved his Army experience in India and the Pacific and loved telling stories about it to his family.

After the war, T. W. married his sweetheart, Beatrice Roberson, who he met on a blind date and who had waited three years for his return. They lived in Pearl City where T. W. and his brother Rueben, ran a small grocery store. After a short time in the furniture business in Louisiana, T. W. and Bea returned to Jackson and Pearl to raise their family and for the next twenty years he worked as a truck driver for Standard Oil. A memorable part of his family life were the many vacations with Beatrice and the children on the Gulf Coast and in the Smokies. A singer and musician, he often played country music on the guitar and piano with his friends.

After surrendering to the Gospel ministry he was called by Branch Baptist Church as pastor and was ordained by the Pearl First Baptist Church in 1974. T. W. and Bea served as a team at Branch Baptist Church, Morton; County Line Baptist Church, Puckett; Sardis Baptist Church, White Oak; Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Magee; and Galilee Baptist Church, Puckett. He leaves many friends and memories at each of these churches.

In retirement he enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, gardening, traveling out West, teaching Sunday School classes, and occasionally preaching. He was a devoted husband and father who loved his family and friends; a dedicated minster; and a loyal friend to many.

T. W. was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Rhue Henderson, Rueben Henderson, Bradys Johnson, and Mary Jones. He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, Beatrice; son and daughter-in-law Tom and Tommye Henderson, Clinton; daughter and son-in-law, Cely and Ray Burgess, Pearl; son James, Pearl. Grandchildren: Josh Little, Pearl; Corley Henderson, Burbank, CA; and Hollye Henderson, Clinton; and great-granddaughter Finn Little, Pearl. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews including Tommy Henderson, Pearl; Niki Thames, Tallulah, LA; and Ruth Roberts, Jacksonville, FL.

The family wishes to thank the many loving and skilled nurses, aids, and doctors at the G. V. Sonny Montgomery VA Hospital in units 4C South, 2A, and the Comfort Care Unit. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the First Baptist Church of Pearl, Gateway Rescue Mission, Disabled American Veterans, or another charity of choice.