Juanita "Gennell" Henry

Juanita “Gennell” Elizabeth Henry, age 83, passed peacefully from this life to the next on Monday, November 16, 2015, while in the comfort and care of her beloved daughter in Spring, TX. Gennell was the loving matriarch of her family, and she considered raising her special needs daughter Nancy to have been a blessing from God.

Gennell was born in Phoenix, AZ on August 24, 1932 to her father U. S. Marine Charles Roy Haynie, and her mother Nancy Aletha Roberts. Preceding Gennell is her youngest daughter Nancy Henry, sister Annie, and husbands Jimmy Henry and Darrell Davenport; and survivors are her sister Louise, daughter and son in law Ron and Jeanne Wheeler, and a host of family members up to five generations. Gennell moved from Phoenix, AZ to Vernon, TX, before coming to the Houston area and eventually settled in Willis, TX, where she purchased her dream home.

Gennell became a single mother of two young girls at a time in our nation’s history when it was difficult for single women to prosper in the corporate world, and she prided herself in overcoming the adversity of her times. She went back to school and obtained her GED, entered into the workforce as a butcher, and was even able to purchase her first vehicle without the aid of others. She took great pride in her work habits and commitments in her industry, even to the point of standing firm in workforce picket lines during the turbulent times of the 70’s. She worked for Country Pride until her retirement.

Gennell was a member of FBC Willis, TX, the local VFW, and the Houston Meat Cutter’s Union. She enjoyed family, music, reading, and writing poetry and music, and even published a record titled 1,000 Memory Lane.

Services are scheduled at the Metcalf Funeral Home at 1801 E. White Oak Terrace, Conroe, TX 77304. The visitation service will be held on Friday, November 20 from 5-7pm, and the memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 21 at 10am. There will be a brief graveside ceremony at 11:30 am at the Willis Cemetery, which is located on Cemetery Road, Willis, TX 77378.

The family would like to extend a special acknowledgment to some very special people that made a positive contribution to Gennell’s care. Lifelong friends Betty South and Bessie Joe Melton, Cathryn Wilmarth, Laryssa Wheeler, Lafonda Berry and Laura Zeller of Better Healthcare, and Chaplain Raya Machupa.