Gladys C. Henry, the daughter of the late Oliver and Eloise Henderson, was born on Jan. 1, 1934. After a fearless and courageous battle, Gladys returned to her heavenly home on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. Her devotion to her family and firm belief in God supported her during her illness and ultimately gave her peace.
Gladys will be remembered for her passionate love she had for Jesus Christ and her family. To know her was to love her. A conversation with her could make you have the biggest smile or shed some of the biggest tears. She was a woman of many words and didn’t mind telling you just how it was. Gladys loved sitting on her porch watching, as well as fussing at, the passing cars. Her love for butterflies exemplified her view of life’s beauty.
Gladys thrived on the love and bond she shared with her family. If you missed more than a few days without stopping by her house, even if only a few minutes, you can guarantee when you did pull in her yard, you were talked about from the car to the steps. That was her own unique way of expressing she missed you.
Up until her health wouldn’t permit, Gladys was a faithful member of Friendship Baptist Church in Yulee under the leadership of the Rev. Rufus Walker.
Gladys not only verbalized the importance of hard work to her family, she was the epitome of what a hardworking woman was. She worked as a housekeeper at Holiday Inn in Jacksonville for numerous years before retiring. Shortly after her retirement, Gladys returned to work a few more years before her final retirement.
She felt that one of her biggest accomplishments was raising a big and loving family that will forever share an unbreakable bond. Her latest joy was seeing her “15th child,” her grandson Derrick Lamar Henry Jr., whom she affectionately called “Shocka,” win numerous awards on and off the football field, break and set records across the world, go on to win the highest college football award, the Heisman Trophy, and fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL (Tennessee Titans, No. 22).
Gladys married the love of her life and best friend, Benjamin Henry Sr., who preceded her in death. Although she anticipated seven girls and seven boys to this beautiful union, 12 girls and two boys were born. Violet, Barbara (Clyde), Rose Mary, Brenda (deceased), Benjamin Jr., Deborah, Ingrid (Josh), Carla, Antionette (Jackie), Gladys (Kelvin), Stacey, Latrease, Valerie and Derrick Sr.; 26 grandchildren (preceded her in death, Faithie Henry and Steven Williams); 23 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Gladys leaves to cherish her memories two brothers and three sisters, Perlie Mae, Bernice, James, Mary Louise (Salathiel-James) and Rudolph.
Further cherishing her memory are a multitude of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Special friends: Susie Davis, Laura Rhodes and Kevin “Reece” Smith.
Funeral service will be Saturday, Sept. 24, at noon at The Journey Church, 95707 Amelia Concourse, Fernandina Beach. The late Mrs. Henry will rest at Friendship Baptist Church on Miner Road in Yulee for visitation of friends on Friday, Sept. 23, from 5-7 p.m. and in The Journey Church on Saturday morning from 10:30 a.m. until hour of service. Interment will be in O’Neal Cemetery by Marion Graham Mortuaries, 1504 Gandy St., Jacksonville.
Marion Graham Mortuaries