Mary Henry

Mary was born on Tuesday, October 4, 1938, to the late Joshua Levi and Loney Rebecca Henry. She was the fourth of their five children --  Florence, Joshua “Edward”,  James “Phillip”, Mary and Harold “Sedrick”. While the men farmed the land and managed the livestock, the women (including the young Mary) cooked and managed the household. There were many times when the men and women of the family joined together to work the land and manage livestock.

Mary attended Beth Ethel School and graduated from Richmond County High School. She enjoyed athletics in school and in the community, smiling at her accomplishments in basketball and baseball as she recalled the events.

Mary had few affiliations. She was baptized into the Jerusalem Baptist Church family at an early age and served as a missionary. Here she was able to use her skills as a cook and contribute her home-cooking to the many meals served at Jerusalem and neighboring churches. Her specialties included sweet potato pies, potato salad, and greens. She was a member of the Threeway Community Club for years. While this membership, too, was about service to others, there was a lot of fun included. There were many bus trips where the children of the members were allowed to attend and fellowship with one another.

Mary married at an early age to Leroy Carl Tate, Sr. To this union, four children were born – Reginald (Edna), Leroy Jr., Joseph, and Jacquelyn (Michael). Joseph preceded her in death.

As an adult, Mary had many employment experiences. She worked at the “Elastic Plant” in Tappahannock for an extended period. When her children were older and no longer home, she chose to go to work in the Washington Metropolitan area, working on various government projects and visited home on weekends. She never fully adapted to city life and soon returned home for good. Later in life, she held various positions with Best, Ames, and Randolph-Macon College. Her “side” jobs included doing hair for women in the community and shucking oysters. Her final position, until retirement, was with WalMart. Throughout the many work experiences, many connections were made. Mary enjoyed people!

Mary later married James Edward Henry, the father of two children, Kalenda and Sonya (Howard). The two have been married for nearly 35 years. While these two unions connected Mary to six children, she unofficially adopted many more, too many to name.   

Mary, though quiet and not very outspoken, enjoyed life. She loved to do for others; in particular, she took great pleasure in cooking for others and watching them enjoy the meal. Mary’s favorite pastimes were gardening, growing flowers, canning, and working puzzles. Later in life, she became very lively and outspoken. She loved being with family and friends and being in a room engulfed in laughter!

Those left to celebrate her life include many, her husband, James E. Henry, her five children, fourteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, seven sisters-in-law, four brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends

Funeral Services for Mary M. Henry will be held on Thursday, July 13 at 11AM in the sanctuary of the Jerusalem Baptist Church, 2404 Nomini Hall Road, Hague.

Interment will follow in the Jerusalem Baptist Church Cemetery.

Remains may be viewed from 10AM until service time on Thursday at Jerusalem Baptist Church.

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