Obituary for Rosemary Lee Henderson In the very early hours of Tuesday, July 31st, Rosemary Lee Henderson, 91, of Thomasville joined her beloved husband of 73 years, Roy Henderson, who passed away just six weeks ago. They are together again, wrapped safely in the arms of their Savior – no more pain, hurt or confusion, now whole and continuing their lifelong love story. Her daughter, Diane was by her side and son, Richard, nearby as always. Her passing was after a day of birthday visits and well- wishes from family and friends at her Woodleaf Senior Living home. She anticipated her passing with the same dignity and confidence that she lived in her life. Rosemary was born in Homerville, Georgia on July 30, 1927 to Noah and Henrietta Lee. She lived most of her adolescent years in Waycross, Georgia. After a long- distance courtship by mail during the European theater of WWII, she married Lt. Richard (Roy) Henderson in Waycross, Georgia on July 16, 1945 while he was on leave before resuming his military duty in the liberation of the Philippines. After the war, she joined her husband in Thomasville where he established what is now Henderson’s Restaurant and Catering, in its 69th year of business. Rosemary volunteered in all activities involving her children, church, and school. Her volunteer work included the Junior Woman’s Club, the Pink Ladies of Archbold Hospital and served as president of the Talisman Garden Club in 1963. She served as vice president of Garden Clubs, Inc. and co-chairman of the Rose Show. Her arrangement in the American Camellia Society’s Show was judged “Most Outstanding Arrangement in Show” in 1964. In 1965 she began her advanced education at Birdwood College, now Thomas University, receiving an associate degree in Liberal Arts. After raising her children and sending them to college, she entered Valdosta State College, now Valdosta State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education in 1969 and a MEd in 1973. At Valdosta State, she was a Fulbright Scholar which gave her an opportunity to receive academic studies in India and later in Russia, traveling around the world in the process. She taught Social Studies at Thomas County Central High School for twenty years before retiring in 1989. She served as head of the department and was named Teacher of the Year by the Thomasville Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution. After retirement, she was Regent of the Thomasville Chapter of the DAR, holding several state chairmanships. She became interested in genealogy, joining the John Howell, Sr. Chapter, Colonial Dames of America and serving as its president. The chapter placed an historical marker designating Joshua Lee as founder of “Banks Lake,” a 4,000 acre lake of cypress trees in 1825 in what is now Lakeland, Lanier Co., Georgia. Joshua Lee was the 3rd great -grandfather of Rosemary. She was a member of the Sons and Daughters of the Pilgrims on her ancestor, John Robinson, pastor to the Pilgrims in England and Holland, and a Cambridge educated Church of England minister who taught at Cambridge until his marriage. Isaac, the son of John Robinson, came to Plymouth and later moved to Martha’s Vineyard and then to Cape Cod where he founded the town of Falmouth. Rosemary formed a chapter for the Colonial Dames Seventeenth Century on January 7, 2007 and served as the first president of the John Lee of Nanesmond Chapter, NSCDXVIIC named for her ancestor, who was a descendant of at least three generations of Oxford educated Anglican ministers. On the state level, Rosemary held state chairmanships of DAR and CDXVIIC becoming Historian of the Georgia State Society CDXVIIC in 2007. In 1993, she served as president of the Thomas County Association of Retired Educators and became active in the Republican Party to support conservative interests. She was a “crusader” who brought about a reform in the Georgia State Constitution concerning the duties of the Grand Jury and some operations of state hospitals in caring for patients. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard (Roy) L. Henderson, Sr., son, Harold (Hal) Henderson, who died in 1975 at age 21 , brother, Robert Lee of Atlanta, Georgia, and sister, Sarah Burkhard of Lake Park, Georgia. Rosemary is survived by her children, Richard L. Henderson, Jr. (Stephanie) of Thomasville and Diane Henderson Wolf (Phil) of Atlanta, Georgia, and by her sister, Eva Lee Ivey of Jacksonville, Florida. Her grandchildren of son, Richard, are Holly Jennings (Jim) and great-grandchildren, Austin, Ryan (Shelby), Julia and great-great grandchild Brynlee of Orlando, Florida; Chad Henderson (Lacy) and great-grandchildren, Grady, Clay, Baylee Rose and Bree Louise of Atlanta, Georgia; Whitney Sampson (Gene) and great- grandchildren, Sophi, Tanner and Rudy of Thomasville; Jim Henderson (Renee) and great-grandchildren Maeva and Finn of Thomasville; and Madison Hobgood (Shane) of Hartsfield, Georgia. Her grandchildren of daughter, Diane, are Stephanie Petree (Hank) and great-grandchildren, Kathryn and Jackson of Charleston, South Carolina; and Jenna Smith (Andy) and great-grand- children, Jenson and Graham of Charlotte, North Carolina. Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 7:30 PM, Friday, August 3rd, at Allen & Allen Funeral Home. Home-going services will be conducted by the Rev. Marty Carnes at 1:30 PM, Saturday, August 4th, in the Chapel of First Baptist Church followed by internment at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to sign the online guest register at www.allenth.com. The family would like to acknowledge the many words of consolation and encouragement that have already been expressed. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Rosemary Lee Henderson please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Visitation © Stadia Maps, © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap Get Driving Directions AUG 3. 06:00 PM – 07:30 PM Allen & Allen Funeral Home 110 W. Hansell St. Thomasville, GA, US, 31792 da@allenfh.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Rosemary’s Visitation begins. Service © Stadia Maps, © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap Get Driving Directions AUG 4. 01:30 PM First Baptist Church Chapel of Thomasville 210 N Broad St Thomasville, GA, US, 31792 Order Flowers for the Service Guaranteed delivery before Rosemary’s Service begins. Cemetery Details Laurel Hill Cemetery 600-700 East Jackson Street Thomasville, GA, 31792 © Stadia Maps, © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap Get Driving Directions
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Rosemary Lee Henderson July 30 1927 July 31 2018.
Death notice for the town of: Thomasville, state: Georgia