Eva Henderson

Eva Joan Baker Henderson passed away on March 5, 2021. She was an unlikely airline stewardess. As a child growing up on a dairy and pig farm in Salem, Indiana, she knew more about life on a farm and agriculture than most of us could imagine. From milking cows to making cracklins in the fall during butchering, she cherished her farm life memories.
But she craved adventure and wanted to see the world. Her family didn't believe she would become an airline stewardess, but she graduated in the 1970 class of Continental Airlines flight attendants. She and Ed Henderson, a Mississippi boy from Piave, met while Joan was in a summer program with the US Army at Fort Benning in Georgia. In true adventuress fashion, she spotted a nice-looking guy she wanted to meet and invited herself to his table at the Officer's Club. When he took too long to make up his mind about a relationship, she went on to flight attendant school to pursue her dream, and he reconsidered his lack of decisive action.
A traveling courtship ended on January 30, 1971, when Ed and Joan married in a candlelight ceremony officiated by Ed's brother, the Reverend Don Henderson. She married in a dress she designed and made of white crepe with a hand-appliqued train-length veil. After marriage, they moved to Cleveland, Mississippi, where she taught school and he worked for Baxter Labs. They went on to welcome a baby boy in 1973 (Mark Henderson). A job transfer to Asheville, North Carolina, for Ed also brought a baby girl to the household in 1976 (Cynthia Henderson).
Mississippi called Ed back, and they moved to Waynesboro, Mississippi, near Ed's homeplace of Piave, in 1978, where we worked for Northern Electric. A final baby boy (Warren Henderson) joined the family in 1981.
In Waynesboro, Joan realized another dream to own her own arts and crafts store. Her enduring passion throughout her life was the design and creation of various arts and crafts ranging from paintings to intricate clothes she created to turning sheep fleeces into sweaters and scarves. Her store was called Busy Fingers and operated in Waynesboro from 1978 to 1988, where she helped customers create their own visions of beauty to brighten their lives.
She adored their unique and challenging projects, from teaching painting classes in true Bob Ross fashion to framing a bull's hide. No problem was too unique or odd for her to undertake. She was also a successful author of crochet patterns and shipped books nationwide to satisfy requests. After another job transfer took the family to Laurel, she eventually closed the store and focused on her teaching career while she kept creating beautiful things for family and friends in her spare time. She taught Home Economics, Gifted Classes, and Math in Laurel, Carrolton, Grenada, and Pass Christian as Ed's jobs took them around Mississippi.
In 2008, Ed and Joan retired to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to be near their oldest son and daughter. In truth, they really wanted to encourage the appearance of grandchildren, which occurred with Odin Henderson's birth in 2011 followed by his sister Corva in 2014 to Mark and Leslie Hatcher Henderson. Ed and Joan adored those grandchildren, and she thrilled at having new people to teach and create things for.
Joan lived a life of passion seeing beauty in creating things great and small to delight friends and family. If she graced you with a creation, you were a friend by default. Her passion for creating beauty and generous heart will be missed. She goes to join her father and mother, Charles and Alice Baker, and her brothers Jerry and John Baker, who preceded her passing. She will be missed by her husband Ed Henderson, her son and daughter-in-law Mark and Leslie Henderson, her daughter Cynthia Henderson, and son Warren Henderson.
A memorial service will be held at the Lazy Magnolia brewpub on March 27, 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 Joan's life.
In remembrance of Joan's life, the family asks that charitable donations be made to The Arts, Hancock County in lieu of flowers. She was an avid artist, weaver, and quilter, and donating to the Arts is an enduring legacy she would have appreciated. Please make donations to The Arts, Hancock County designating "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/
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 9113 Kiln DeLisle Rd. Pass Christian served the family. An online obituary may be viewed, and memories and photos shared at www.RiemannFamily.com