Rev. Hal Thomas Henderson Sr.'s Obituary
Rev. Hal Thomas Henderson Sr., of Conyers, GA was called home on April 8, 2019.
LIFE
Rev. Henderson, the first born of Robert and Lucy Henderson, entered this world on Monday, February 13, 1933. He was the oldest of three brothers, including Robert and James Henderson, born in Forsyth, GA. He loved to sing, and sang in his school choir and Glee Club. After graduating from high school, he moved from Tennessee to Detroit, Michigan. While there, he started singing with the Original Five Royals, who later changed their name to The Midnighters. He then started singing with a Gospel Quartet and they won numerous awards.
In July of 1955 Rev. Henderson married the love of his life, Harriette Ella Brown, after meeting her only 3 months prior. In January, 1958, he received a calling that took him into a life-long ministry serving God. He received his Local Preachers License in 1959, Deacons Orders in 1960, and Elders Orders in 1963. He has been presented with countless awards across his 58 years of ministry including those coming from the President of the United States, Governors, members of Congress, the Presidents Drug Advisory Council, and the Baltimore-Washington Conference Black Methodists for Church Renewal. Rev. Henderson pastored churches in Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC and is listed in the Who's Who in the Methodist Church.
In 1993, he was appointed to the historic Ebenezer United Methodist Church in Washington, DC. This was the oldest black church on Capitol Hill and the place where the first school for Black Children, in Washington, DC was held. This is the church in which Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and many other historic figures spoke to the congregation over the years.
In Rev. Henderson's words, "...the Ministry, to me, means an opportunity to show to the outside world some of the inside Christlike concerns that one should possess, if he or she is to become a good and faithful servant of God."
FAMILY
Rev. Henderson is survived by his beautiful bride of more than 63 years, Harriette Ella, his 4 devoted children: Kevin LeBron, Tjwanna Michelle, La Tosca Babette, and Hal Thomas Jr. He leaves 2 sons-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law, 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 2 brothers, Robert and James, and a host of extended family, friends, and people whose lives he touched. He is predeceased by his son, Thomas Castodaro (Feb. 09, 1996).
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