Elder Jesse D. Henderson

Elder Jesse David Henderson was born on September 17, 1942, to Jesse and Dora Henderson. Both parents and his brother preceded him in death. Jesse attended public schools in Kinloch, Missouri, and graduated from Kinloch High School. He took some college courses in Omaha, Nebraska. Elder Henderson met the love of his life, Nellie Woods, and was married on October 1, 1968. Nellie inspired him to give his life to the Lord, and both became members of San Francisco Temple Church of God in Christ, under the leadership of Bishop Dwight McDaniels. The two celebrated 50 years of marriage before Nellie transitioned to be with the Lord. Jesse was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. He was always telling people where God brought him from, and he won many souls to Christ by his personal testimony. He had a kind heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Bishop McDaniels saw that brother Henderson was a Bible scholar, and there was no subject or question regarding the Bible that he didn’t know. He was ordained and received his license as an Elder in the church. Elder Henderson held many jobs throughout his career and was employed with General Motors Company. In April 1981, his job moved from St. Louis, to Bowling Green, Kentucky. He retired from General Motors on June 30, 2000, after thirty years of faithful service. He had such a compassionate heart for Christ and consequently started his own church. Elder Henderson loved to go fishing, swimming, and roller skating. He traveled two hours to Nashville, Tennessee, every Sunday, just to roller skate. While skating, he loved to let people know he was 79 years old, and people would stop what they were doing and watch him. Elder Henderson would often go to nursing homes and preach every week. He was always on the streets preaching with his bullhorn, compelling people to give their life to God. People started calling him, “Preacher Man”, which he enjoyed hearing. He had a habit of blowing his horn up and down the streets, leaning out the windows to make sure he got everyone’s attention. On the day he departed this life, I heard the whistle blow within the hospital room from the machine that was keeping him alive; and every time it would sound, his entire body would jump. I knew God was telling him to get on board, “Your work on earth is done.” In August 2021, when his health began to fail, Elder Henderson relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, to live with his sister, Christine Upchurch. There was never a dull moment in the house. He loved to eat, talk, read, pray, and quote scripture all day. Some of his favorite words that I had the pleasure of hearing every day were “WOW,” “WELL,” “When is it time to eat,” and “Where’s my car, phone, and money?” He would often tell his brother-in-law, “I make your day. You never had it so good until I came here.” They would talk and laugh for hours until they would get tired of hearing each other. Our home has not been the same since the day he died. Sometimes I listen for his voice to say, “Tiny, Tiny,” and I praise God for the last six months he was in St. Louis. Elder Jesse David Henderson departed this life on Friday, February 18, 2022, at 10:44 p.m., at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, in the presence of his sisters, brothers, nieces, and nephews. Elder Henderson leaves to cherish his memory: four sisters, Ida Maclin, Christine (Thornton) Upchurch, Gloria Henderson of St. Louis, MO, and Ronda (Hugh) Hall of Hampton, VA; five brothers, Larry, Michael, Rene, and Milton (Denise) of St. Louis, MO, and Kenneth Henderson of West Palm Springs, FL; one great-nephew, Brehlon, who at the first glimpse, brought Bill so much joy; his Skating Team Family in Nashville, TN, where he used to go skating every Sunday night; five sisters-in-law, Delores (Calvin) Bing, Ruby (Lester) Walker, Karen (Jerome) Middlebrooks, Valerie Renell Cody, and Irene Woods; two brothers-in-law, Willie James Philip and Felix Woods; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Sincerely, -Your friends at Burnam and Son

Elder Jesse D. Henderson

September 17, 1942 - February 18, 2022

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Elder Jesse D. Henderson

September 17, 1942 - February 18, 2022

365 Days of Grief Support

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