OCSEA mourns loss of Ed Henderson, friend and activist

May 16, 2007 - PCI Chapter 6550 Vice President and Steward Ed Henderson passed away on Saturday, May 12, after several months of fighting cancer.

Funeral services will be held on May 17 in Columbus and on May 19 in Youngstown.

• The Columbus funeral arrangements are set for Thursday, May 17, at the Greater Jordan Temple where family will receive friends at 9 a.m. A service will follow at 10 a.m. at the same church located at 52 Reeb ave. Phone: (614) 444-7808

• The Youngstown funeral arrangements are set for Saturday, May 19, at the Heavenly Place Church located at 1350 Katheryn ave.,
  The viewing will be 9 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 10 a.m. Phone: (330)746-7675.

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The following appeared in the Columbus Dispatch.

Edward Henderson Jr. was born on July 18, 1952, in Youngstown, Ohio and entered into eternal rest on Saturday, May 12, 2007, at the age of 54 years. He was born to Aretha and Edward Henderson Sr. and raised by his grandparents Charles and Elizabeth Harold.

A graduate of East High School in Youngstown, Ohio; Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for 20 years as a Culinary Specialist. His military career included tours of duty in Germany, California, Virginia and Maryland. After retiring with honors from the U.S. Army at Sergeant First Class, he moved his family to Columbus, Ohio in 1992.

Edward was employed as a Food Services Coordinator at Lucent Technologies before his employment with the Pickaway County Correctional & Rehabilitation Institute. He also served as an OCSEA AFSCME Local 11 Arbitration Committee Member.

He attended Le Cordon Bleu Academy and DeVry University in Ohio. He was an avid jazz enthusiast, model car racer and professional chef and caterer.

He leaves to cherish his loving memory, his devoted wife of 34 years, the former Brenda Forte, whom he married on September 8, 1973. Two children, Tanika Henderson and Keisha Henderson and a granddaughter, Khalia Henderson, all of Columbus, OH.

Sisters, Sandra (Jerome) Jackson Jacksonville, FL, Lena (James) Carter Los Angeles, CA, Sally Henderson Pittsburgh, PA and Valerie Henderson Youngstown, Ohio. Brothers, Turhan (Diane) Henderson Youngstown, OH; and Jason (Laura) Burnside Victorville, CA. In-Laws, LaVonna (Otis) Humbert, Youngstown, OH, Danielle (Jerome) Revish, Worthington, OH, Bonnie Jean (James) Stringer, Youngstown, OH.

He is preceded in death by his mother Aretha Henderson, grandparents Charles and Elizabeth Williams and Harold and Nora Smart, father-in-law James (Sara)Forte and brother-in-law James Stringer. He is further survived by a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Edward was loved by all and will be greatly missed.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 17, 2007, at 9 a.m. at Greater Jordon Temple, 52 Reeb Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. Funeral Service to follow at 10 a.m. Interment Saturday, May 19, 2007, in Youngstown, Ohio.

SOURCE: The Columbus Dispatch on 5/16/2007.