Edsel "Ed" Henderson

Edsel Dale Henderson passed from this life on May 22, 2021. He was a Mississippi Storyteller and overall, less than serious person. To the best of our knowledge, the following information is mostly true.

Ed was born to James Chapman Henderson and Ada Walley Henderson on October 5, 1943, in Mobile, Alabama. As the 4th of Ada's children, it was understandable if you thought Ada was working on another Guinness Book of World Records record. After all, she was already part of one, as one of the eight girls born in sequence followed by eight boys in the Wiley Walley family. Alas, Ada concluded her family at seven children so there was no additional record on the books.

Ed was one of many current day descendants of Hanna Hale and Chief Far Off Warrior Hopole Haujo. The Creek warrior and the English girl that came to love him is a story yet to be written. But Hanna, a very successful business woman, bequeath a work ethic that has survived generations to manifest in many descendants who are business owners, scientists, entrepreneurs, and such throughout the region.

Ed's family moved back to Greene County and he spent his youth there. There were many improbable adventures for a country boy and his family. The family had the only mule who was baptized in the Baptist way. He was a contrary soul, as mules are, but baptized nonetheless. The story goes that the mule was not to be found one day after a particularly stubborn refusal to do work the day before. Over the course of the week, the family realized he might be truly gone but his lack of work ethic wasn't really missed. On Sunday, they went to West Salem Baptist Church that was located about a mile from the house, where they located the errant mule in the baptismal pool. The mystery remained what the mule had done to require that level of forgiveness. However, the baptismal pool was repurposed.

The family had several livestock that seemed to be fixated on religion. There was also the very pregnant pig. She was close to fallowing, so they were keeping an eye on her. But she escaped the crib to make her own choices on her birthing suite. She was also located at the church, on a Sunday morning. She was more interested in Sunday school for the little piglets and was found ensconced there with her new family. Ed spent quite a while cleaning that room and was not a fan of porcine husbandry after.

As a descendant of a World War I veteran and a Revolutionary War veteran, Ed also answered the call to military service. After ROTC in college, he joined the US Army. He would go on to Officer Candidate School (OCS) and graduate from there too. As a Lieutenant in the US Army, he trained and led a number of young men in service and remained in contact with the OCS class throughout his life. His children are thrilled he joined the military as it was there that he met the love of his life, Eva Joan Baker.

Joan was exploring life and completed a summer program in the Army. One evening, she decided to have dinner at the Officer's Club at Fort McClellan, Alabama. Ed was also there, sitting at a table alone. Joan took a shine to him, invited herself to the table, and a romance was born. It wasn't all smooth sailing, apparently Ed had to get his head on straight (Joan's comment), but eventually he proposed to the beautiful airline stewardess and took her back to Mississippi.

They had a bouncing baby boy in Cleveland, Mississippi, and named him Mark. They moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and brought a baby girl, Cindy, into the world. That Mississippi mud wasn't washing off though, and Ed pined to be home. They moved back to Waynesboro, Mississippi in the late seventies. After Mississippi State beat Alabama in 1980, a 6-3 upset of the defending National Champions, a very exuberant evening led to the birth of Warren the following year.

Ed's professional career went from Baxter Healthcare, to Northern Electric Blankets, to Howard Industries, Heatcraft, and Lazy Magnolia Brewery. Throughout that journey, he cracked jokes and walked the manufacturing floor ensuring quality workmanship as he went.

He was a man who loved babies and loved his grandbabies, Odin and Corva. He frequently had them asleep on his chest or had them in his arms to show them or tell them something.

He lived a life of gentle good humor and the occasional dirty joke and was rarely serious about anything. He goes to join his wife of 50 years, Eva Joan Baker Henderson, who preceded him in death, as well as his brothers Donald, James, and Marshall Henderson and his parents James and Ada Henderson. He is survived by three children who will miss his jokes and include Mark Henderson and his wife Leslie Hatcher Henderson, Cindy Henderson, and Warren Henderson as well as his two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Lazy Magnolia brewpub on June 19, 2021, at 6:00 PM. The brewery is located at 7030 Roscoe-Turner Rd, Kiln, MS 39556. All are welcome to join us in a celebration of Ed's life.

RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 9113 Kiln DeLise Road, Pass Christian served the family. An online obituary may be viewed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com

In remembrance of Ed and Joan's lives, the family asks that charitable donations be made to The Arts, Hancock County in lieu of flowers. Ed supported Joan in her many creative endeavors, and we feel certain he would want to continue to support her legacy. Please make donations to The Arts, Hancock County designating "Ed and Joan Henderson Memorial Fund." Checks can be sent to The Arts P.O. Box 3498 Bay St. Louis, MS 39521 or online at www.hancockarts.org/donate/