Robert Earl Henderson

Robert Earl Henderson, 91, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, peacefully departed this world in his home on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007. He was born on June 4, 1916, at his home place in the Reedy Fork Church community to the late Decatur Calhoun and Mae Babb Henderson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Alvin Roy Henderson. Mr. Henderson was a lifelong dairy farmer and co-owner of Henderson Brothers Dairy. His respect and love of the land was reflected in the manner in which he cared for his livestock and properties. His affiliation upon retirement with Orchard View Meats and Celanese completed the fullness of his life as he made lifelong friends in these endeavors. Mr. Henderson was a lifelong member of Reedy Fork Baptist Church where he was a church trustee and treasurer of the Faith Alive Sunday School Class. He is the last surviving member of Reedy Fork Baptist Church who witnessed the original church building that burned in 1937. He was very proud that he assisted in pulling the piano and the pulpit Bible from the fire as a young man. He loved his church family and was at every service until most recently. He was a true Southern gentleman who always put his family before self. His priorities were faith, family, and friends. He was totally devoted to his family. He was the center of the conversation with his quick wit and humor. There was always laughter in the room when Mr. Henderson was present. His most treasured memories were of family vacations to the beach and trips around the United States and Europe with precious friends. Mr. Henderson was an active member of the Piedmont Lions Club and the Augusta Road Ruritan Club. He valued the friendships he made and the memories created in his affiliation with these men. Mr. Henderson is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann Morgan Henderson. They most recently celebrated seventy years of marriage at a lovely party hosted by their children and grandchildren. He is survived by two devoted daughters and sons-in-law, Anna and Bruce Holcombe and Kathy and Mo Howard. Grandchildren are Mark Holcombe and his wife, Lori, Beth Reynolds and her husband, Nate, and Chip Howard. Great-grandchildren are Elizabeth, Hayes, and Davis Holcombe and Nathan, Morgan, and Anna Reynolds. The family will receive friends at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown, Friday, November 23, 2007 from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 24 at 2 p.m. at Reedy Fork Baptist Church with Reverend Van Pigate and Reverend Dr. Howard Foster officiating. Burial will follow at Greenville Memorial Gardens. Honorary pallbearers will be the Faith Alive Sunday School Class, Reedy Fork Young-at-Heart Seniors, Piedmont Lions Club, and the Augusta Road Ruritan Club. Memorials may be made to the Reedy Fork Baptist Church Building Fund, 459 Reedy Fork Rd., Greenville, SC 29605.