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Celebration of life services for Mrs. Mertha Mae Chatman Henderson will be held Saturday, November 5, 11:00 A.M. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church with the Rev. David Heard officiating. Interment will follow at the Springhill CME Cemetery.
Mertha Mae Henderson was born Oct. 15, 1922 to the late Jim and Beauty Dixon Chatman. She accepted Christ at an early age and united with the Springhill CME Church. She later became a member of the Ebenezer Baptist Church where she remained a faithful member until her failed.
She attended Webster Parish Schools and was a proud graduate of Webster High School. She united in Holy Matrimony to the Rev. Pinn Henderson and together they reared biological and foster children.
Mrs. Mertha Henderson was the first African American to be employed at Haynes Claiborne Medical Clinic. She was an integral part of the clinic staff until retirement after 40+ years of service.
An active member of the Friendship M & E Association, she served as past President of the Minister’s Wives Department. She was also a faithful member of the Golden Raiders Praise Dance Group and a member of the White Rose Club.
She enjoyed traveling abroad. Some of her favorite trips were to Anchorage, Alaska, the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia and California. She also participated in the Claiborne Parish PTO and often traveled to the Annual Conventions. The passions of her pastimes was fishing and spending time with her family.
“Ma Mert” as she was affectionately called, departed this earthly life on Oct. 27 after a lengthy illness.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her spouse; sons, Jimmy Henderson and Orea D. Moody; foster sons, Donald Bernstein and Robert Randle; and a sister, Christella Hill.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her son, Billy Don Henderson of Homer; her grandchildren, Victor Moody (Chanda), Velisa Kirkendolph (Earnest), Oreata Banks (Darrell), all of Minden, Kenneth Norton, Jimmy Norton, both of DeSoto, Texas, Angela Moody of Minden, DeMetriuis McGraw (Krystal) and DeMarkquis McGraw (Crystal), both of Texarkana, Arkansas; 15 greatgrandchildren; a many great-great-grandchildren; two daughters-in-law, Gloria Moody and Virginia Henderson; a foster son, Michael Randle of Phoenix, Arizona; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, Nov. 4 from noon until 5 p.m. at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Homer.
Services are entrusted to Kennon’s Mortuary. Email condolences may be sent to [email protected].