Dereather Grant Henry

Dereather Henry was born in Fairfield, Texas on September 19th, 1961 and passed away on January 24th, 2026 at Seton Ascension Hospital, Austin, Texas at the age of 64. Her childhood was influenced by being part of a family of the U.S. Army, where her father served. She spent a portion of her early childhood with and was heavily influenced by grandparents (Ernest and Clara Solomon), alongside aunt and uncle Archie Mae and Luke Titus, in the Fairfield / Butler area. Dereather was a member of Pointer Ridge Baptist Church while living in Maryland during her childhood. Later, the family attended First Baptist Church of Leander, Texas in the early 1990s.

She graduated from Phoebus High School near Hampton, Virginia in 1980. She attended Dental Assistant Technical Training at Norton Air Force Base, San Bernardino, California. Between various family relocations, Dereather worked as a Dental Assistant & in Retail Customer Service.

She lived in Cedar Park, Texas from 1991 until the present with her husband, surrounded by 3 children, and greatly anticipated the recent birth of her first grandchild. Prior to 1991, the family traveled extensively to various U.S. Air Force locations where her husband served. Dereather was an exceptional military spouse who held the family together while her husband deployed on multiple missions to Europe, the Persian Gulf, and Saudi Arabia.

Uncle Willie C. Solomon and Aunt Clara Mae Wade were stalwart supporters enabling us to acclimate and raise our new family while we lived in San Bernardino, California.

Her main hobby was reading novels and science fiction. This evolved into reading social media and following news groups and content creators in recent years. She enjoyed singing and various forms of entertainment. She was opinionated on politics, personal responsibility, and self-reliance.

Dereather is survived by husband Morris Maurice Henry Sr. (Norris)-Cedar Park Texas, Daughter Lauren Clairesse Shanafelt and Husband Caleb Shanafelt – Leander Texas, Son Morris Maurice Henry Jr. – Hutto Texas, Daughter Brittany Irene Henry – Cedar Park Texas, Granddaughter – Aria Noelle Shanafelt – Leander Texas, Mother Mrs Irene Wright – Georgetown Texas, Brother Torres Grant – Austin Texas, Brother Lewis Weldon Wright 4th – Georgetown Texas, Sister Carol Elaine Wright – Katy Texas; and a host of others.

She frequently gave guidance to and enjoyed company with multiple family members of the next generation, including: niece Jada Wright and nephew Isaiah Wright of Katy, Texas. Her new granddaughter, Aria, was a special recipient of her expressions of love.

Magoline Rose, Ruby Lee Carter, Florence M. Crenshaw, & Julis Ann Jackson, were always held in high esteem and spoken of by Dereather with fondness, reverence, and love.

She grew up with and was eternally bonded to cousins Sarah Hightower and Calvin Solomon.

There are also many in-laws in the same areas who graced our lives and contributed to our happiness and family cohesiveness, as well as many close nephews, cousins, and other family members throughout Texas and California that we hold dear and are thankful to have been blessed with throughout our life.

Thank the lord for everyone in our lives.

The family extends their appreciation to the medical staff at Seton Ascension Cedar Park and Seton Ascension Main, Austin for their professional care provided during December 2025 and January 2026.

Visitation will be held Saturday February 7th, 2026 from 11AM – Noon.

Remembrance will be held Saturday, February 7th from Noon – 1PM at Chapel of the Hills Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas.

Your immediate family misses you already.