Vernon Henderson

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Vernon Henderson, age 77, of Olive Branch died at 5:36 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, after an extended illness.

He was born March 6, 1929, in Thebes, Ill., son of Melvin "Bud" and Nellie Bailey Henderson. He met and married the love of his life, Helen J. Garrett, Feb. 14, 1949.

Mr. Henderson was a lifelong member of Alexander County FreeWill Baptist Church. He worked as a farmer and in the timber business. He also worked construction out of Local 773 in Cairo. Ill. He ran a game room 10 years in Olive Branch.

He is survived by four sons, Vernon "Butch" (Evie) Henderson, Larry Henderson, Paul (Debbie) Henderson, Gary (Angie) Henderson, all of Olive Branch; two daughters, Brenda (George) Calvert of Murphysboro, Ill., Rose (Melvin) Lawrence of Tamms, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; five brothers; three sisters; nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Alexander FreeWill Baptist Church in Olive Branch, with the Rev. Earnest Brown officiating. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Thebes.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, and after noon at Alexander FreeWill Church.

He was a loving husband to Helen for 57 years. Vernon was a loving, giving and caring person not only to his family, but to anyone who knew him and will be sadly missed but not forgotten.