Henderson, Jr., William F.
11/13/1951
August 24, 1880 - November 13, 1951 |
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| William F. Henderson, Jr., was born August 24, 1880, at Keithville, Louisiana. He passed to his reward November 13, 1951, at Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the son of Rev. William F. Henderson and Mary Ida Dockery. On June 29, 1904, he was married to Miss Ludie Hendrick in Keithville, Louisiana. His formal education consisted of grammar school and high school training. As a minister he was very studious and enriched his ministry through his extensive reading of good books and periodicals. In 1913, at the age of 32, he joined the Louisiana Conference, and was ordained in 1917. Brother Henderson was one of those noble men of God who served the Methodist Church in sacrificial devotion. His first pastorate was Pelican, Louisiana. He served Benton, Cedar Grove, Bienville and Davisonville. When World War I came he entered the service of the YMCA said ministered to our boys in the U. S. Training Camps. At the close of the war be again entered the pastorate and served Bonita, First Church Haynesville and Zwolle. The Methodists of Shreveport were thinking in terms of a new church, so Brother Henderson was selected for this undertaking. He organized the Wynn Memorial Church and led his new congregation into a building project, which resulted in a new building. His next appointments were Cotton Valley, Hall Summit, Calhoun, Athens, Bernice, Clay and Chatham. Shortly after moving to Chatham his health failed and he moved to Shreveport, where he resided until he passed to his eternal reward. His ministry consisted of 27 years of noble service. This humble man of God was an understanding pastor and a companion to the youth of his congregations and was ever ready to befriend them. A prominent Louisiana minister has stated that when he was a lad, Brother Henderson was his pastor and repeatedly invited him to ride over his circuit with him. Out of this companionship and idealism came an appreciation and challenge of the ministry, which was a deciding factor in his entering the ministry. Those who visited in the home of Brother and Sister Henderson were impressed with the beautiful devotion they expressed for each other. Throughout his long illness his major concern was for the progress for our great church and the Lord’s kingdom. He apparently was improving on the night of his departure and retired in good spirits. While asleep he quietly left for his eternal home without a struggle. Truly a noble soul has exchanged his earthly habitation for the place prepared for choice spirits. Since he was so well prepared to enter into the other life with grace and ease, we should “Weep not as those who have no hope.” |
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| Source: Journal of the Louisiana Conference of the Methodist Church, Pages 160, 1952 by B. Mack Bentley. | |
