Rev. Henry Lee Henderson Sr., age 71, of Forrest City, died Thursday, Dec. 26, 2002, at Baptist Hospital East in Memphis.
Rev. Henderson, born April 18, 1931, in Round Pond. He was a member of Mt. Olive M.B. Church and became an ordained minister in August of 1986. Rev. Henderson is survived by his wife of 40 years, Shirley Henderson of Forrest City; two sons, Henry Henderson Jr. and Darren Henderson, both of Forrest City; a daughter, Sharren Henderson of Forrest City; three sisters, Ardelia Tyms of Memphis, Merriel Cross of Cairo, Ill., and Alberta McGruder of Chicago, Ill.; two brothers, Alfred Henderson of Buffalo, N.Y., and Birdell Henderson of Farmingdale, N.J.; nine grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends. Rev. Henderson was preceded in death by two sons, Johnny Lee Henderson and Verge Lee Henderson; one sister, Veola Henderson-Ford and two brothers, Verge Lee Henderson and Willie Lee Henderson.
Funeral services for Rev. Henderson will be held on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olive M.B. Church with Rev. Lawrence Cannon officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Olive Cemetery under the direction of Marianna Funeral Home.
Mrs. Myrtle Marie Leslie, age 87, of West Helena, died Friday, Jan. 3, 2003, at her home.
Mrs. Leslie was born Oct. 4, 1915, in Madison, the daughter of George Padgett and Emma Watts Padgett. She made her home in Forrest City and West Helena all of her life and was a housewife.
Mrs. Leslie married Herman Leslie in 1932, and he preceded her in death in 1981. She is survived by four sons, Richard Leslie, Bobby Leslie and Elmer Leslie all of West Helena, and James Leslie of Widener; one daughter, Marie Ervin of Nashville, Tenn.; one brother, Lewis Padgett of Shell Lake; two sisters, Geneva Casey of Forrest City and Carolyn Mitchusson of Widener; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was also preceded in death by one son, Donald Leslie in 1991.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 6, 2003, at 11 a.m., at Stevens Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Glenney officiating. Burial followed in Hughes Cemetery.
Mrs. Rosie Mae Welch, age 92, of Moro, died Monday, Dec. 30, 2002, at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City.
Mrs. Welch is survived by two daughters, Alma Brown and Rosie McClenton, both of Chicago, Ill.; four sons, Bennie Welch of Moro, Hayword Welch of Chicago, Ill., Jeff Welch of Gilroy, Calif., and Edward Welch of Marianna; 20 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Welch were held Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, at noon, at Springfield M.B. Church. Burial followed in Springfield Cemetery under the direction of J.E. Kennedy Funeral Home.