Twaunda Henderson

She was born April 29, 1922 in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, the daughter of Robert H. Wilmot and Clema A. (Fuller) Wilmot; she was the 2nd of seven children.

Twaunda was educated at the Wynnewood High School in Oklahoma. After high school she went to California to live with an aunt that had acted in silent movies. She worked in a drug store and during the war years she operated a street car in San Diego, California.

She married Clyde Henderson on November 25, 1948 in Norridgewock, Maine and raised three children. They had been married 58 years when Clyde passed away on February 7, 2006.

Twaunda spent many years making a home for her family. She later worked for Norrwock Shoe Company in Skowhegan and Norridgewock. For many of the 38 years Clyde worked for CMP Company, Twaunda was an unofficial employee, collecting electric bill money from customers. During power outages she would spend many hours taking trouble calls and relaying them to the main office.

She was always doing crafts in her spare time like sewing and quilting. After learning ceramics she turned that hobby into a business. For the better part of 20 years she gave classes at her home studio. There never was a year she did not have a garden. As soon as it was warm enough she would kick off her shoes and spend the summer barefoot tending flowers and vegetables.

She is survived by her children: Joanne Henderson of Philadelphia, PA, Robert Henderson of Williamstown, VT, Scott Henderson and his wife Dori of Norridgewock; her siblings: Juanita McPhetridge of El Centro, CA, Jimielou Ott of Pauls Valley, OK, her four grandchildren: Erik, Mikayla, Katelyn and Daniel, one great-grandson Daniel, and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband and her sibling: Robylee Henson, Ollie Booker and Arella McAvoy and Alfred H. Wilmot.

Viewing hours will be held on Friday March 23, 2012 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Smart & Edwards Funeral Home, 183 Madison Ave., Skowhegan, Maine. A funeral service will be held on Saturday March 24, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 32 River Road, Norridgewock, Maine with Pastor Nathan Richards Officiating. Burial will take place later in the spring at the Sunsetview Cemetery in Norridgewock, Maine.

We would like to express our gratitude to the nurses and staff of HealthReach Hospice and the wonderful Ladies of Assistance Plus.

Donations may be made in Twaunda’s memory to the Hospice Volunteers of Somerset County, Po Box 3069, Skowhegan, Maine 04976