James "J.W." Henderson, Sr.

James William Henderson (J.W.) Sr. B October 3, 1937 – D December 10, 2022.  J.W. was the eldest son of James Clinton Henderson and Hattie Mae Maynor Henderson.  J.W. had four other siblings Martha Maxine, Clifford Henderson, Myron Henderson, and Mary Henderson Johnson. Together with his wife of 66 years Armenta Ward Henderson he was the father of three loving children; Vena Marie Henderson, James William Henderson (J.W.) Jr., and Andrea Henderson Thompson Dixon.  J.W. is also survived by his grandchildren; Kathrine Thompson Hinckley, Christian Thompson, Kyle Thompson, Trisha Wallace, Kathleen Kisinger Hall, Connor Henderson, Rebecca Henderson Hoyt, Claire Henderson Wiscombe, Ethan Henderson, Hannah Henderson, and Ammon Henderson.  Also included are J.W.’s many great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, and other extended family to numerous to write here but loved and cherished by him.

Preceding him in death were his parents J.C. and Hattie along with his sister Martha, his two brothers Myron (Casey) and Clifford, and his much beloved Vena Marie.

All the above are facts but they hardly tell the life of J.W. Henderson.  He was an athlete in school participating in both basketball in Jr. High in Water Valley, Miss., and High School in Bryant, AR. He played football for Bryant High School as well as graduating from there in 1956.  His real love was mechanics.  He wanted to know what made an engine run and how to make it run faster.  He bragged that he had his father’s yard full of at least 10-15 cars that had to be hauled off when he entered the United States Air Force in 1956.

While in the Air Force he got his dream job of being a mechanic on the newest fighter jet of the age, an F-86D!  Dad loved his work and became extremely good at it.  So good in fact that he became a crew chief on his own plane.  During his time in the Air Force he earned a commendation for saving his aircraft on the ground in the middle of the strongest typhoon to ever hit Okinawa by getting it to safety and tied down.  He also had the dubious distinction for being the only Airmen Basic in the Pacific Theatre who was a Crew Chief.  It’s true, he had problems with authority.

After his exit from the military in 1959 Dad went to work in the field of painting, drywall, construction, and finally to independent contractor work where he labored most all his life.  Dad took great pride in every aspect of the work from how he and his workers looked to the cleanliness of the equipment to the organization of the materials and labor.  He was a genius with his hands. Anything he did he strived to make look just perfect. I’ve never seen his equal as for his willingness to work and be the best at what he did.  He taught us all that whatever you choose to do for a living, be the best at it and people will reward you for it.

No telling of my Dad’s story would be complete without his love of adventure and wanderlust.  Dad was a restless soul who always wanted to know what it was like somewhere else.  He would go where the work that interested him was, where there was more work to be done, or just a place he had never been that he’d like to see.  I remember when he spoke of us all moving to Winnipeg, Canada! Just because he saw it somewhere and thought it looked nice.

By far, the most important thing in my Dad’s life was his family.  Not just his wife and children but all of the extended members of our clan.   He would carry us to family gatherings and reunions in the summer and holidays.  We would visit family that lived nearby and stay the night so that we got to know one another.  Dad would tell stories all the time about ancestors and things he had heard that would be passed down so that those people would not be forgotten.  Maybe because Dad taught so many of our family to work and to work together, when we were young, that over time he became our patriarch. I don’t know if it was by accident or by grand design but J.W. Henderson Sr. was undeniably a foundational part of the Clan Henderson.

Services held at Smith-Benton Funeral Home, 322 N. Market Street in Benton- Visitation held from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, December 15 and Funeral service held at 11:00 AM, Friday, December 16.  Graveside service following at 1:00 PM at Forest Hills Cemetery in Alexander. Assisting as pallbearers are J.W. Henderson, Jr., Connor Henderson, Ethan Henderson, Kyle Thompson, Christian Thompson, and Gene Henderson. Honorary Pallbearers are Ray King, Bobby Golden, Elder Ammon Henderson, and Bill Henderson.  

Services entrusted to Smith-Benton Funeral Home, 322 N Market Street, Benton, AR 72015.  Online guestbook: www.SmithFamilyCares.com.