Henrietta H. Henry

Beloved Mom and “Granny”, Henrietta Hendrix Henry, passed away peacefully at her home in Avon Park, Florida on Sunday, July 16, 2023. 95 years old, and to the end she continued to be curious and engaged in life. She enjoyed keeping up with the news, and watching travel documentaries and instructional programs on television. She loved to talk to her grandchildren and great grandchildren about what was new in their lives and they loved to listen to Granny’s stories about her childhood. She never forgot family birthdays and her great grandchildren always got a special treat tucked into their cards. She was born August 22, 1927, the youngest of 6 children of Robert “Roscoe” and Pearl Hendrix, on a farm in rural Cherokee County, Georgia. At the age of 10, she moved with her family to Orlando, Florida where she graduated from Boone High School in 1945. She attended Orlando Jr. College for two years, and she met her future husband, Royce A. Henry, a young WWII veteran, then stationed at Orlando Air Force base. They were married in 1947 and like many women of her generation she then devoted years of her energy to homemaking and raising their children. In 1962, upon his retirement from the US Air Force, they moved to Avon Park Florida and lived on Lake Viola. Quiet and unassuming, she never sought public attention, and preferred the company of her family and a few close friends. She had a reputation of being a good cook, and during a time when eating out was a rarity, she cooked thousands of meals for her young family. As her children grew in adulthood, she would spend all day cooking for them and other relatives to gather together around the dinner table at least once a week. Even when she had only herself to cook for, she still loved watching the cooking channel or collecting new recipes. Throughout her life Henrietta was very creative and enjoyed all types of sewing and crafts. As a thrifty young wife and mother she sewed clothes for herself and her children, and later in her life made each of her great grandchildren beautiful and treasured baby quilts. She had an amazing collection of craft supplies and left this world with a long list of projects she wanted to try. She enjoyed gardening in her yard, with a special interest in growing tropical flowers and fruit. Even in her last years she looking for a new way to keep the raccoons from eating her growing pineapples before they were ripe. She enjoyed things which reminded her of “the good old days” and in her retirement a favorite activity was shopping to find bargains on antique or collectable items. She studied to learn more about vintage glass, pottery and collectibles. She enjoyed discovering treasures, and helping others expand their collections. A natural Florida girl, she loved the beach -whether it was Sanibel Island, other gulf coast beaches or Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, she always said the beach was the place where she felt the most peaceful. She spent many happy hours throughout her long life on beaches-picking up shells, listening to the waves and watching children play. Henrietta is preceded in death by her husband, Royce A Henry, and her eldest son, Ralph “Hank” Henry. A great loss to her in her last years was her beloved dog Jack, who was her well loved and steadfast companion. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Jana Henry of Avon Park, her daughter and husband, Meroe and Robert Wheatley of Wilmington, North Carolina, as well as her son and wife, Clifford and Wilma Henry of Avon Park. She is also survived by her treasured grandchildren and their spouses, Karla and Ray Repress of Avon Park and Katie and Stuart Mackay of Brandon, Florida, Scott and Heather Wheatley of Wilmington NC, Robyn and Ryan Taylor of Hendersonville, NC. , and Matthew R. Henry of Avon Park. Most precious were her 9 great grandchildren, aged 17 to 5 yrs of age, who were all lucky enough to have had time to get to know her and who will always fondly remember their Granny Henry. Henrietta was a member of the First Baptist Church of Avon Park for more than 50 years and at her request, in lieu of flowers donations may be made to this church. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 Pm at Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home of Avon Park. Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at Bougainvillea Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
111 E. Circle St.
Avon Park, FL  33825
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com