Willie Henderson

Deaconess Willie Jewel Henderson was born on December 26, 1919, in Little Rock, Arkansas to her parents, George Washington and Marzella Roseman Washington. She was the only child born to this union. As a child, she was close to her cousin, Linnie Mae Barton. They were like sisters and she shared a special closeness with her Aunt Hattie. Her mother passed away when she was only 2 and she was raised by her Aunt Hattie and her second mother, Fannie Winters. She received her early education in Morrilton, Arkansas. She played basketball with the girls basketball league. Willie wed Lewis J. Black in Morrilton, to this union, Barbara, George, Jerome, Doris and Jewel were born. In 1943, she relocated to Denver, Colorado and later married, Hillary Hankins. To this union, a son Harold Hankins was born. She wed William Henderson in Denver, with this union, Joyce, Wilma, William and Johnny were added to the family. They all shared many happy and precious moments together. By profession, Willie worked as a Pastry Chef for the Denver Public Schools, Millers Cafeteria, Spertes Laffet's in Larimer Square and Stromburgs in Cherry Creek. Wherever she was employed, she was hard-working, dedicated, dependable, and performed her duties with a spirit of excellence. She retired after many years of faithful service. A woman of faith and belief in the Lord, Willie was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church for over 73 years. She served her church and the Lord as a member of the Deaconess Board. She has served as a member of the Beautification Ministry, the Hospitality Ministry, the Outreach Ministry, and many other ministries in the church. In November of 2016, she received a Certificate of Recognition for her many years of dedicated service to the church. She had received many other awards. Willie was proud and elated to receive a special recognition award from President Barack Obama on her 90th birthday. Willie Jewel was a fun-loving, woman who enjoyed life and those she encircled. In her free time, she enjoyed cooking, baking, canning food, and gardening. She was an avid Denver Bronco fan and loved watching football on television. She loved being surrounded by family and friends. Her friend, Julia DeBuyzer, will miss the many conversations and time they shared together. She will be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to have known this kind and wonderful woman. To know Willie Jewel was to love her. She is preceded in death by her husband, William Henderson; three of her children, Jerry J. Black, Harold Hankins, and Joyce Wilson; grandchildren, Cynthia Burrell, Robert and Michael Ellis, Yolanda Proctor, and Jerome Black, Jr. and a great granddaughter, Kanitra Hill. Deaconess Willie Jewel Henderson departed this life to the embrace of the Lord on January 7, 2017, in Denver, Colorado. Those left to cherish her memory and mourn her loss include 3 sons, Deacon George L. (Missionary Alma) Black of Centennial, William E. (Kay) Henderson and Johnny (Terri) Henderson all of Aurora; 4 daughters, Barbara R. Cook of Aurora, Doris M. (Thomas) Hill, II of Conyers, GA, Pastor Jewel (Manual) Johnson of Aurora and Wilma J. Jefferson of LA, CA; 33 grandchildren, C. Renee Taylor, Herbert Jefferson, Sherri Ellis, Eugene Cook, George Black, Jr., Rowena Craft, Alecia Whitehead, Seth Smallwood, Erika Evans, Charlene Black, Marie Black, Reverend Thomas T. Hill, III, Adrian and Stephen Johnson, David T. Hill, Darian Johnson, Dedrrick Johnson, Rayven Brooks, Jayon, Amir, Jordan Johnson, Denise Henderson, Nichole Drake, Robert V. Martin, Virginia Martin, Shequila Jones, Keithron Winston, Jasmine, John John Henderson, Denise Johnson, Hanan Hankins, Haley Hankins, Jerry Hankins, Larry Pierre and Jerry Black, Jr.; 85 great grandchildren; 53 great-great grandchildren and 4 great great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives, and many friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 1/13/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 1/14/2017 at 11:00 AM - Central Baptist Church - 2400 California Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 1/14/2017 - Highland Memorial Gardens - 10201 Grant Street Thornton, CO